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Preservation of the Plains Buffalo

This plaque commemorates the preservation of the plains bison by the Canadian government. A large proportion of plains bison currently in conservation herds are descendants of the Pablo-Allard herd and proliferated in Canada. This monument used to stand in a slightly different location, near where the Astotin Theatre now sits. The text is bilingual (English/French), as is typical of Canadian memorials. 

Although the plaque commemorates Buffalo National Park near Wainwright, Alberta, that park ceased to exist soon after the creation of this plaque. It was placed at Elk Island National Park instead, as Elk Island was a way station for the herd sent to Buffalo National Park and is currently the seed herds for both North American subspecies of bison. 

The text reads as follows: 

PRESERVATION OF THE PLAINS BUFFALO

CONSERVATION DU BISON DES PLAINES

The teeming buffalo of North America provided the Indian with food, shelter, clothing, tools, fuel and weapons and played a central part in his social and ceremonial life. Its meat in the form of pemmican was the chief sustenance of fur-trader, Métis and explorer. Ruthless slaughter brought the buffalo to the edge of extinction so that by 1906 very few, including a small herd at Banff, remained in Canada. In that year the Dominion Government acquired the Pablo herd in Montana, and established it in Buffalo National Park, Wainwright, Alberta, thereby ensuring their preservation. 

Le profilique bison d'Amérique du Nord a assuré à l'Indien nourriture, abri, vêtement, outils, combustible et armes, et inspiré sa vie sociale et religieuse. Sa chair, ou pemmican, a constitutué l'aliment principal du trafiquant de fourrures, du Métis et de l'explorateur. Le bsion, victime d'une chasse impitoyable, frôla l'extinction. En 1906, il n'en restait que très peu y compris une petite harde à Banff. Le gouvernement canadien acheta le troupeau de Pablo, au Montana, et l'installa à Wainwright, dans le parc national de Buffalo. Depuis ils se sont multipliés. 

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