Earlier this month, 13 Lakota youth on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation had the opportunity to participate in a buffalo harvest courtesy of the Cheyenne River Youth Project and DuBray Buffalo Ranch. The harvest, which was made possible with funding from the Ted Turner Foundation, took place on Sunday, Dec. 1.
This was an important cultural experience for the young people and CRYP’s team of eight staff members, which included youth trainees. Not only do buffalo play a vital role in the Lakota Nation’s creation story, they were essential to the people’s survival for generations.
“When we came up through Wind Cave, the buffalo were there to greet us, and they took care of us,” explained Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “The buffalo is our relative, and traditionally we had a deep connection to them. Unfortunately, due to colonization, our young people are growing up without an understanding of that special relationship.
“As Lakota people, it’s so important for our cultural health that we support the rebuilding and strengthening of that connection,” she continued. “It is cultural reclamation to have young people watching and engaging in the respectful and ceremonial harvesting of a buffalo.”
The young people bore witness as one buffalo was killed, offered traditional prayers and sprinkled cansasa (red willow) on the animal, and had the option to participate in the skinning if they wished. Ranch owner and CRST tribal member Fred DuBray, a world-renowned expert on the American bison, guided them every step of the way, sharing stories, cultural information and the health benefits, both physical and mental, of bison meat.
“It was such a highlight to watch the kids be so fearless,” Garreau said. “They were willing to jump in and learn how to skin the buffalo. It was cold, but they understood why this was so important. One young woman even wore her ribbon skirt. That was powerful to see, because this once was women’s work.
“Fred helped me harvest my first buffalo and taught me to skin it, so I understand the impact he is having on these young people,” she continued. “It is life-changing. We are very grateful to Fred and Michelle DuBray for inviting us to their ranch and giving our youth this opportunity.”
For their part, the young people agreed this was a remarkable experience. One young woman said she loved seeing the buffalo run across the rolling prairie hills. Another said she appreciated experiencing the harvest in a hands-on way, as adults usually take over.
“They seemed to enjoy the environment as much as the activity itself,” reflected Jerica Widow, CRYP’s programs director. “We saw horses, deer and coyotes as well as the adult buffalo and calves, and the kids really liked that.”
After a pause, she observed, “Being outside in a wild environment, with so many animals and coyotes howling — it’s something that is hard to explain. It’s something you just have to feel.”
This is especially important, Garreau noted, for Lakota youth who are growing up in the city of Eagle Butte rather than in the countryside.
“For them, experiencing the cold, fresh air and spending time with people who want to share this traditional, cultural knowledge with them is life-changing,” she said. “They see the buffalo now. They understand we must take care of them, and they understand the role the buffalo plays in our lives.”
Once the meat from the Dec. 1 harvest has been processed by West Side Meats, a tribally owned business, CRYP will incorporate it into daily meals at its campus. Meanwhile, the buffalo will continue to educate Lakota youth at the CRYP campus, as students taking classes in traditional Lakota arts will learn to tan the hide.
“We depend on the bison not just for food, but for all our essential needs,” said Wakinyan Chief, CRYP’s arts manager. “We are inextricably linked. When they were brought to near extinction, we were forced to surrender. And, now that their population is growing, so is ours.”
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.