 |
BUFFALO DOG |
|||||
 Tipi Village stands in Old Man River Valley. © David Muenker |
"Before the Europeans brought horses to North America, our people hunted buffalo on foot," a Blackfoot elder told them.
"They used small fires to scare the buffalo and make them stampede across the prairie to the cliff."
"The animals fell over the cliff edge to their deaths. The tribes got enough buffalo meat to feed them through the winter."
"Tell us the story about the name of this place, elder," a young boy requested.
"Yes, where did the name Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump come from?" a girl chimed in.
 Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre hugs the cliff. © David Muenker |
"He stood at the bottom of the cliff with his back pressed against the wall.
The buffalo started to tumble over the cliff like a beautiful brown waterfall."
Sonya's eyes opened wide.
"The earth went thud, thud like a drum each time a buffalo hit the ground."
Another elder beat his drum - tom, tom, tom, tom.
"The hunt was bountiful. The buffaloes piled one on top of the other like a mountain rising."
"Suddenly the boy realized he was going to be trapped. He tried to escape but the buffaloes fell on top of him."
Everyone groaned.
"The weight of the falling buffaloes crushed his skull. Ever since then, the people have called this place Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump."
Sonya rubbed her head with her paws.
"Buffalo jumps are an important part of our heritage," the elder continued. "We honor them with this interpretive center."
 Dancers in colorful costumes watch the United Nations flag parade by. © David Muenker |
"I love dancing!" Sonya spun circles in the air.
On the center's plaza, a group of elders beat drums. The performance began with a parade of colorful flags carried by tribal members.
The flags represented the four tribes of the Blackfoot Nation, Canada, the United States and the province of Alberta. There was also a flag of the United Nations, in honor of the buffalo jump's designation as a World Heritage Site.
One after another, members of the Blackfoot Nation performed traditional dances. A man moved like grass blowing in the wind for the Grass Dance.
Metallic cones attached to a woman's costume made the sound of little bells as she performed the Jingle Dance. Men danced the Duck and Dive, which tells the story of warriors returning from battle.
 A woman teaches Sonya the Ladies' Fancy Shawl Dance. © 2006 Ravay Snow |
Sonya leaped onto the dance floor. She watched the woman's feet closely and then began to imitate her rhythmic steps, turns and twirls. Sonya danced and danced under the hot sun.
When the dance ended, the woman tied a green scarf around Sonya's neck. "You danced very well," she said. Sonya blushed with pride.
"Good job!" Tom gave Sonya a high-five/high-paw.
A handsome man entered the center of the plaza to perform the men's traditional dance. He wore a bustle made of eagle feathers on his back. His forehead was covered with bright red paint.
"That's my Uncle Evan," Tom said. "He wins competitions all over North America. I'll introduce you to him."
Sonya watched him with awe.
"If we're lucky, my uncle will take us to the top of the cliff and tell us all about the buffalo jump. But we'll have to catch him before he leaves for the Pow Wow."
At the end of the performance, the dancers invited all the visitors to form a big circle for the Round Dance. Everyone moved clockwise with short, sliding steps. The drummers kept a steady beat, and the elders chanted.
When the dance ended, the crowd applauded and then headed inside the center to see the exhibits.
"Where did Uncle Evan go?" Tom asked Sonya. "We've got to find him or we'll never see the top of the cliff!"
Note: This story is fiction based on fact.
Go to Sonya's Picks for links to websites about the sights and wildlife of this World Heritage Site.
Test your understanding of words used in this story with the Word Match game.
Story | Sign Up for Newsletter | Puzzles & Games | Contests & Activities Letters to Sonya | Sonya's Picks | More Stories | What are WHS? | Sonya's Team For Parents | Site Map | Home |
Photographs ©2005-2008 David Muenker. Text ©2005-2008 Rose Muenker. Illustrations ©2005-2008 Ravay Snow Any use without express written permission is illegal and punishable by law. All rights reserved. Site designed and developed by Josh Bergman. |
