HONOURING THE BUFFALO: A Plains Cree Legend

AVAILABLE IN FOUR LANGUAGES

English/Cree

Through the Creator, Buffalo gave themselves as a gift for the sustenance and survival of the Plains Cree people. This largest land animal in North America once thundered across the Great Plains in numbers of 30 to 50 million. They provided shelter, food, clothing, tools, hunting gear, ceremonial objects, and many other necessities for those who lived on the Plains.

But by 1889, just over a thousand buffalo remained, and the lives of the Plains Cree people changed. Buffalo is honoured to this day, a reminder of life in harmony that was once lived.

This is the story of how Buffalo came to share themselves so freely for the survival of the Plains Peoples.

Based on the Plains Cree legend as told by Elder Ray Lavallee; Written by Judith Silverthorne, illustrator Mike Keepness. English with Cree translation and educational resources. Also available in French/Cree and German/Cree.

48 pages, 11″ x 8.5″ $14.95 (softcover) 978-1-927756-33-1

Told by Ray Lavallee. * Written by Judith Silverthorne. * Illustrations by Mike Keepness

* Photographs by Jeffrey Sawatzky * Plains Cree Translation: Randy Morin * Translation Editors: Jean Okimāsis and Arok Wolvengrey

Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing

Back Cover Blurb:

“A long time ago Our People came from the Northern Woodlands to the Great Plains looking for food,” Grandfather said. “They saw that the Buffalo* lived in harmony with Mother Earth the same as Our People did.”

But by 1889, just over a thousand buffalo remained, and the lives of the Plains Cree people changed. Buffalo is honoured to this day, a reminder of life in harmony that was once lived.

This is the story of how Buffalo came to share themselves so freely.

Buffalo/Bison* Although the proper scientific name for this animal is Bison, the term Buffalo has been used in this book as this is the common name familiar to more Indigenous Peoples of the North American Plains.