"On my return from White Shield, N.D., this weekend, I traveled through the middle of the state. In one area, and on both sides of the road, we regularly saw buffalo lounging or eating grass by the roadside. As we passed by the herds Sunday, my sister and I noticed the herds included the bulls. We lived on a farm long enough to know cows usually are kept from bulls until certain times of the year, so that their calves can be born when there's less of a chance the birth will take place in a spring blizzard - not always a guarantee. This is North Dakota.

The buffalo, however, handle inclement weather easily. These giant woolly animals are amazing - they seem strong enough to hold their own against almost any wild animal, and they epitomize a creature that provided richly for Native people historically.

Last year, one of the Native reporters from the Herald and I went to a Native American Journalist Conference in Lincoln, Neb. While there, we were treated to a tour of the buffalo herd of the Ho-Chunk tribe in Winnebago, Neb. Louie LaRose, who no longer is there, talked about the buffalo like they were old friends."

Get the Story:
Dorreen Yellow Bird: Buffalo play important role on prairie (The Grand Forks Herald 8/1)

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