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On the plains of Alberta once roamed the plains buffalo. Sorry, that’s incorrect. On the plains of Alberta once roamed the plains bison. When Europeans colonialists came to Turtle Island (North America) they believed these giant animals were related to the buffalo of Africa and Asia. They are not, but this is why bison are still sometimes referred to as buffalo, including at this UNESCO World Heritage site Head-Smash-In Buffalo Jump. In this post I’ll use bison to refer to the animals, but you’ll see the name buffalo jump used to refer to this particular Indigenous technique of hunting bison.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located on Treaty 7 territory, about 22km west of the town of Fort Macleod. This region is the traditional home of several different Indigenous groups including the Îyâxe Nakón mąkóce (Stoney), the Michif Piyii (Métis), the Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ), the Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis, and the Tsuut’ina.
Buffalo jumps (pis’kun in Blackfoot) are found in many places throughout North America. They consist of a cliff and a hunt using a buffalo jump would involve members of an Indigenous tribe working together to herd the bison over the cliff. This would leave the animals to injured and allow other members of the tribe to finish the hunt, usually with a spear or bow and arrow.
Head-Smash-In is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the history of the Blackfoot people and the important of the bison to them. And despite the violent sounding name and indeed method of hunting, it was absolutely no comparison to the slaughter of the bison that happened when European colonialists arrived in North America. I visited this site back in 2014 with a friend and when I decided to take a short road trip to southern Alberta last year I knew I twanted to come back.
Head-Smash-In is a UNESCO World Heritage Site showing the history of the Indigenous peoples of the area (particularly the Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ). In particular it focuses on the importance of the plains bison to their survival. Despite the violent sounding name and method of hunting, it was no comparison to the slaughter of the bison that happened when European colonialists arrived in North America.
A hunt for bison using a buffalo jump wasn’t a daily or even weekly occurrence for the Indigenous peoples. Circumstances had to be just right for using a buffalo jump. It could be several months, even a year or more in between a hunt. As well most Indigenous tribes were nomadic, so they weren’t always at a buffalo jump to use it.
When bison were hunted the meat was mixed with fat and berries and dried into a food called pemican. This helped it last for long periods including during the winter. I don’t believe the education I received as a kid was really thorough when it came to Indigenous studies. One thing I do remember learning was how almost every part of the bison were used after a hunt. This includes the hides, the hair, the meat, the fat, and even organs.
Then European colonialists came over with guns and horses. Instead of bison being hunted a few times a year, and used to ensure the survival of many, one man could come in a slaughter massive amounts of bison a much shorter period of time (weekly or even daily). Unsurprisingly the white European colonialists didn’t make use of the bison after a hunt as effectively as the Indigenous peoples. At Head-Smashed-In is a photo of a white European man sitting on top of a pile of what looks to be hundreds of bison skulls. It is haunting and disturbing to see the excess slaughter of these animals for what amounts to “sport.”
The bison population across North America went from an estimated 30-50 million to less than 1000 in the late 1890’s. And soon the main food and supply source used by Indigenous peoples had practically gone extinct due to over hunting. The excess amount of bison bones in Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump were mined in the 20th century all the way up to WWII and used for phosphorus to contribute to making ammunitions. Even long after most of the bison were gone from the region the remains of these animals were still being harvested.
There has been a push in the last 100 years to try to repopulate bison in North America; one such place is at Elk Island National Park east of Edmonton. But the plains bison will never return to the numbers they had before. I believe it’s important for everyone living on Turtle Island to understand the history of the Indigenous people here. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a great place to do just that. If you’re visiting this area of Alberta take a few hours to spend some time at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and learn about when the bison once roamed this land.
Things To Know
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located along Secondary Highway 785 approximately 22km west of the town of Fort Macleod. If driving south on Highway 2 you’ll turn right at 785 and if driving north on Highway 2 you’ll turn left. From the Highway 2 junction It’s about a 10 minute drive along 785 to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
The interpretive centre is indoors and is open daily (except holidays) from 10am to 5pm. It costs $18 for an adult, $14 for seniors, (65+), and $11 for youth (7 to 17) with free admission for kids 6 and under. There are also walking trails outside. There is no longer a restaurant on site (closed since Covid), but there may be vending machines. The closest town to go for lunch would Fort Macleod.
Before my visit I stayed at the Bluebird Motel in town of Claresholm, about 51km north of Head-Smash-In Buffalo Jump. More option for accommodations near Head-Smash-In Buffalo Jump include the town of Fort Macleod (22km east), the city of Lethbridge (71km east ), or further out is the city of Calgary (184km north).