Bison the focus of special field trip for Bow Valley students

A group of Grade 5 students in the Bow Valley had the chance to learn from Stoney Nakoda knowledge keepers this week — and from each other. 

The students were from Exshaw School, most of whom are members of the Stoney Nakoda Nation, and from Canmore's Lawrence Grassi Middle School. They gathered for a special field trip at the Star 6 Ranch in Bow Valley Provincial Park, near Exshaw.

The ranch, situated in an area where bison had historically roamed, was chosen as the setting for a day of cross-cultural sharing focused on the bison. 

Elder Phillomene Stevens, a knowledge keeper, said that for generations the bison served as a source of "everything" to her ancestors — from food to clothing to tools. Her elders passed their knowledge of the animal on to her; now she sees it as her job to share it with the next generation. 

"The students have been so wonderful," said Stevens. 

"They learn, they listen, they ask questions."

The students from Exshaw School joined in the teaching, sharing poster presentations about the bison with their peers from Canmore. 

"[For the students], forming new relationships with each other has been really special and it's been neat to see them share knowledge with one another today," said Chelsea Waite, a Grade 5 teacher at Exshaw School. 

"It was pretty amazing, to be honest," said Exshaw student Desmona Holloway, who said she practised her presentation with kindergarten and Grade 1 students at her school ahead of Thursday's field trip. 

"I thought it was really fun and a great idea," said Sapphire Speckeen, from Canmore. 

Organizer Heidi Widmer, with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, said a previous iteration of the event focused on the bear. The bison was chosen this year due to its cultural significance and its role as a "keystone" species.

Bison is also a timely choice, Widmer said, given efforts underway in Banff National Park to reintroduce the bison.

"The hope is the bison will once again be within view of these students on the landscape," said Widmer, who is the institute's environmental educator. 

Knowledge keeper Tracey Stevens hopes the students who are learning about the bison today will one day become knowledge keepers themselves. 

"I hope they learn very well and listen, because that's what's important," she said.