Curated by Camina Weasel Moccasin, Ikkinainiahkii.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Buffalo Treaty, a framework for reconciliation that focuses on cooperation, restoration, and renewal. To date, over forty nations and thousands of supporters have signed the treaty. This exhibit explores how the Buffalo Treaty can support individual and community wellness in all its forms: spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental.

For Indigenous peoples, their relationship with Buffalo is not solely based on resources; it holds spiritual and ceremonial responsibilities. The Buffalo Treaty allows people to explore and renew this relationship today. The exhibit content examines how reintroducing Buffalo to the environment leads to the renewal of relationships among plants, animals, and the cosmos.

Buffalo is a symbol of physical wellness.
Image courtesy of Johane Janelle

Niitsitapii Elders emphasize the importance of continuing Buffalo teachings and maintaining a strong connection with these beings. Intergenerational knowledge about Buffalo harvesting techniques is highlighted and shared with visitors to the exhibit. In partnership with the International Buffalo Relations Institute, the exhibit aims to raise buffalo consciousness in the Great Plains of North America.

Buffalo as Education.
Image courtesy of Johane Janelle

The exhibit seeks to embody the motto shared by the International Buffalo Relations Institute, which is, “We are the Buffalo, and the Buffalo is us.”