The bison's presence is magnificent, and yet their story is filled with tragedy and played a significant role in Canada's history and people.
The film explores the bison's story in North America from the last ice age to the current day. Bison's Return From The Edge Of Extinction tells of Canada's role in the life of bison in North America.
Estimates vary between 30 million to 60 million bison once roamed the plains of North America. Yet the bison were very close to being made extinct, and the film explores how and why this occurred. We revisit the devastating effects the loss of bison had on First Nations people and what followed that shapes today's people.
The Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company and the story of Ruperts Land are shaped dramatically by the fur trade and bison and its use in Pemmican making. Why was the fur trade reliant on Pemmican, and why did it contribute to the bison's demise?
The Government's early years of bison conservation were politically motivated, and mistakes were made. As a result, the preservation of the bison was not what it is today, and the path to today's conservation work is fascinating.
The film aims to tell the bison from a Canadian viewpoint as it differs significantly from the story told in the United States of America.
The ten part documentary series for non-theatrical release has been completed. To learn how you can access it, please visit the "Distribution & Sales" page
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BISON RETURN FROM THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: CANADA
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
OFFICIAL PUBLISHER: SQUARE SHEEP FILMS
DIRECTOR: MIKE WIVELL
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT: “COPYRIGHT @ 2021 BY SQUARE SHEEP FILMS, 2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED”
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Episode 1: RUPERT'S LAND & THE FUR TRADE
RUNNING TIME 33:04
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: DR. LEROY LITTLE BEAR, WES OLSON, PROFESSOR FRANK TOUGH, GABRIEL BAILEY, DR. AMELIA FAY, BROCK SILVERSIDES.
FILM LOCATIONS: FORT EDMONTON PARK, ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, LAST MOUNTAIN HOUSE, MANITOBA MUSEUM - HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY GALLERY, LOWER FORT GARRY, GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE, BATTLE OF SEVEN OAKS
The episode looks at the fur trade, the Hudson's Bay Company, the North West Company and the creation of Rupert's Land. First Nations and Métis and their involvement within the fur trade.
Critical Studies: History. Politics. First Nations. Indigenous. Conservation. Fur trade. Canada. Hudson's Bay Company. Northwest Company. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History.
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Episode 2: PEMMICAN & YORK BOATS
RUNNING TIME 32:42
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: PROFESSOR FRANK TOUGH, PROFESSOR GEORGE COLPITTS, GABRIEL BAILEY
FILM LOCATIONS: FORT EDMONTON PARK, ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, MANITOBA MUSEUM - HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY GALLERY, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
The episode looks at the importance of pemmican on the fur trade and its impact on bison numbers. The York boat crews, the fur trade, and the Hudson's Bay Company as the bison numbers dwindled and the demand for furs declined.
Critical Studies: History. Politics. First Nations. Indigenous. Conservation. Fur trade. Canada. Hudson's Bay Company. Northwest Company. Rupert's Land. Creation of Canada. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History.
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Episode 3: GREATEST LOSS. FAMINE & PESTILENCE
RUNNING TIME 39:10
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: BILL WAISER, DR. JAMES DASCHUK
FILM LOCATIONS: FORT BATTLEFORD, SASKATCHEWAN, REGINA
The episode looks at the demise of the bison herds in Canada. The arrival of European settlers and the railroad. The Treaties and the policies of the government include the permit system and the pass system.
Critical Studies: History. Politics. First Nations. Indigenous. Peace and Reconciliation Canada. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History.
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Episode 4: PABLO ALLARD & EARLY CONSERVATION
RUNNING TIME 35:21
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: HARVEY LOCKE, LAUREN MARKIEWICZ, JENNIFER BROWER
FILM LOCATIONS: BANFF NATIONAL PARK, WAINWRIGHT DISTRICT MUSEUM, BUD COTTON PADDOCK CAF WAINWRIGHT
The episode looks at how Canada became instrumental in leading bison conservation by purchasing the Pablo Allard herd. Early conservation mistakes and critical moments in Canada's bison conservation efforts to bring a near-extinct species back from the brink.
Critical Studies: History. Politics. First Nations. Indigenous. Conservation. Parks Canada. Pablo Allard herd. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History. Conservation.
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Episode 5: BERINGIA THE BEGINNING
RUNNING TIME 38.38
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: PROFESSOR DUANE FROESE, DR. ALWYNNE BEAUDOIN, DR. CHRIS JASS
FILM LOCATIONS: UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM
The episode looks at how bison first came to be in North America and evolved to survive other species that went extinct.
Critical Studies: History. Conservation. Archaeology, Palaeontology, Canada. Ice Age. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History.
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Episode 6: BANFF NATIONAL PARK. BISON RETURN
RUNNING TIME 38:46
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: DR. LEROY LITTLE BEAR, KARSTEN HEUER, HARVEY LOCKE
FILM LOCATIONS: ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
The episode goes behind the scenes with Parks Canada to learn what was involved in re-introducing bison into Banff National Park.
Critical Studies: Conservation. Canada. Parks Canada. National Parks. First Nations. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History.
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Episode 7: PARKS CANADA
RUNNING TIME 38:01
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: MARK EDWARDS, GREGORY WILSON, ROB FOUND, RYAN HAYES, LAWRENCE LAMOUCHE
FILM LOCATIONS: ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK, GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK
This episode looks at the current work of Parks Canada specifically to do with bison conservation of both the plains and wood bison.
Critical Studies: Conservation, Natural History, First Nations. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History.
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Episode 8: JUMPS & POUNDS.
RUNNING TIME 39:57
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: RANDY BOTTLE, JACK BRINK, BRUCE CUTKNIFE
FILM LOCATIONS: WRITING-ON-STONE PROVINCIAL PARK, HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP, WOMEN'S BUFFALO JUMP, BODO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE & CENTRE
This episode tells the methods First Nations used to hunt the bison on the Northern plains. Historically hundreds of jumps and pounds were skillfully used by First Nations throughout Canada to hunt bison. The episode visits some iconic sites, and we learn about life on the plains.
Critical Studies: First Nations. Bison. History. Canada. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History.
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Episode 9: BISON OR BUFFALO?
RUNNING TIME 40:19
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: WES OLSON
FILM LOCATIONS: ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK, GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK, RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
This episode tells the physiology and life of bison. Both plains and wood bison are featured, and it is a perfect introduction to learning about North America's largest land mammal.
Critical Studies: Conservation. Natural History. Canada. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History.
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Episode 10: THE FUTURE & THE SCIENCE OF CONSERVATION
RUNNING TIME 1:01:44
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH - EMBEDDED .VTT - SEPARATE CLOSED CAPTION & TRANSCRIPT FILES ATTACHED IN FILE.
FEATURING: GREGG ADAMS, MIRANDA ZWIEFELHOFER, GREGORY WILSON, GILLIAN CHOW-FRASER, GORD VAADELAND, DR. LEROY LITTLE BEAR, MARIE-EVE MARCHAND
FILM LOCATIONS: ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK, UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE, BANFF NATIONAL PARK
This episode looks at what the future of bison conservation looks like in Canada and the challenges.
Critical Studies: Conservation, First Nations, Bison Treaty, science, bison genome biobank. Anthropology. American History. Archaeology. Canadian History. Canadian Politics. Canadian Social Issues. Documentary. First Nations Studies. Geography. Indigenous Issues. Indigenous Peoples. Nature. World History. Science.
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Film Locations.
Elk Island National Park, Alberta.
Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan.
Banff National Park, Alberta.
Bodo Archaeological Site & Centre, Bodo, Alberta.
Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba.
Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, Alberta.
Bud Cotton Buffalo Paddock - CAF Wainwright, Alberta.
Wainwright District Museum, Alberta.
Manitoba Museum - Hudson's Bay Company Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Lower Fort Garry, Saint Andrews, Manitoba.
Fort Battleford, Battleford, Saskatchewan.
Last Mountain House, Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan.
Battle of Seven Oaks site, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, Alberta.
Old Women’s Buffalo Jump, Cayley, Alberta.
Writing On Stone Provincial Park, Alberta.
Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, Alberta.
Fort Edmonton, Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton, Alberta.
Wildrose Convention / Bison Show & Sale, Camrose Regional Exhibition, Alberta.
Interview Roster.
We are very fortunate to have the following persons contribute to the film ( In no particular order ).
Dr. James Daschuk, Ph.D. - the Associate Professor University Of Regina and published author of Clearing The Plains Disease, Politics Of Starvation, And The Loss Of Indigenous Life.
Mr. Bill Waiser, B.A, M.A, Ph.D. - A western Canadian historian and a publisher of over a dozen books, many of which have been recognized with various awards and include. A World We Have Lost: Saskatchewan before 1905
Dr. Leroy Little Bear - Blackfoot researcher, Professor, University of Lethbridge, a founding member of Canada's first Native American Studies Department and recognized leader and advocate for First Nations education, rights, self-governance, language and culture. Was instrumental in the Bison Treaty.
Mr. Dan Fox - Advocate for the bison and Blackfoot cultural revitalization.
Mr. Wes Olson - Bison Management Specialist and retired National Parks Warden for Parks Canada
Mr. Jack Brink - Retired Curator of Archaeology, Royal Alberta Museum & published author: Imagining Head-Smashed-In.
Ms. Courtney Lakevold - Archaeologist, Bodo Archaeological Society.
Ms. Alwynne Beaudoin, Ph.D. - Director Natural History, Royal Alberta Museum.
Mr. Chris Jass, Ph.D. - Curator, Quaternary Paleontology, Royal Alberta Museum.
Mr. Mark Edwards, Ph.D. - Curator, Mammalogy, Royal Alberta Museum.
Professor Duane Froese, Ph.D., MSc, BSc - Faculty of Science, University of Alberta.
Ms. Lauren Markewicz, B.A - Interpretation Supervisor, Parks Canada & public Historian and published author: Like Distant Thunder: Canada's Bison Conservation Story.
Ms. Jennifer Brower - Author - Lost Tracks, Buffalo National Park, 1909 - 1939.
Mr. Matthew Rothenberger - Interpretation Coordinator - Parks Canada - Lower Fort Garry
Mr. Gregory Wilson, Ph.D. - Bison Ecologist, Species Conservation, Parks Canada.
Mr. Rob Found, Ph.D. - Park Ecologist, Elk Island National Park, Parks Canada.
Mr. Ryan Hayes - Bison Coordinator - Grasslands National Park
Ms. Bonnie Spencer - Metis Elder - Metis Nation of Alberta
Professor Frank Tough, Ph.D. - Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta.
Professor George Colpitts, Ph.D. - Department of History, University of Calgary & published author: Pemmican Empire: Food, Trade and the Last Bison Hunts in the North American Plains, 1780-1882.
Dr. Maggie Jones, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor, Economics - University of Victoria.
Dr. Donna Feir, Ph.D. -Assistant Professor, Economics - University of Victoria.
Mr. Karsten Heuer - Biologist, Parks Canada Park Ranger & Bison Reintroduction Project Manager, Author.
Mr. Harvey Locke - Conservationist, Writer & Photographer.
Ms. Marie-Eve (Bison Belong ) Marchand - Harvey Locke Conservation Inc, IUCN WCPA Beyond Aichi Task Force VP
Amelia Fay, Ph.D. - Curator of HBC Museum Collection, Manitoba Museum.
Professor Gregg P. Adams DVM, MS, Ph.D., Diplomate ACT, FCAHS - Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan.
Miranda Zwiefelhofer BSc. - Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan.
Randy Bottle - Blackfoot Elder and guide at Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park.
Mr. Brock Silversides. - Author of Fort de Prairies: The Story of Fort Edmonton.
Mr. Terry Kremeniuk - Canadian Bison Association Executive Director.
Mr. Steven Lunty & Mrs. Michelle Lunty - Chair, Bison Producers of Alberta and Canadian Rangeland Bison & Elk Inc.
Mr. Dean Andres - Vice President Sales & Marketing - Rangeland Bison
Mr. Lawrence Lamouche - Traditional Lands Manager - Woodland Cree First Nation
Mr. Gord Vaadeland - Executive Director - CPAWS Saskatchewan.
Ms. Gillian Chow-Fraser - Boreal Programme Manager - CPAWS Northern Alberta.
