In 2017, Parks Canada released 16 bison in the northeast section of Banff National Park. This herd has since grown to over 60 animals roaming throughout the reintroduction area. Although Parks Canada has been monitoring the ecological impacts of this reintroduction, there has been little to no cultural monitoring data collected. In response, the Stoney Nakoda Nations prepared their own report, which emphasizes the importance of their traditional and cultural knowledge and provided recommendations for how they can be meaningfully included in the management of the buffalo. The report recommendations include several ways that Parks Canada and the Stoney Nakoda can work more closely together to ensure the continued success of the bison reintroduction program. The report stresses that projects such as this are an integral part of Truth and Reconciliation and demonstrate how Traditional Ecological Knowledge can be woven with western science to define a more holistic approach to park management.
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