Buffalo Field Campaign Week of Action Starts Today!

For Immediate Release:
February 12, 2018

Contacts:
Stephany Seay, Buffalo Field Campaign, 406-646-0070 / 707-357-7114
Mike Mease, Buffalo Field Campaign, 406-646-0070 / 707-357-7114

West Yellowstone, Montana - Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is holding their annual Week of Action beginning February 12, with events planned around southwest Montana through February 18, 2018. Details can be found here and below.

This year's Week of Action will include a very special event, the First Annual Rosalie Little Thunder Walk, to honor Lakota elder and Buffalo Field Campaign co-founder, the late Rosalie Little Thunder. Rosalie was a member of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate; Burnt Thigh Band, of the Little Thunder Tiospaye and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She lived in the Black Hills Treaty Territory in Rapid City, South Dakota. Rosalie was a tireless and wisdom-filled advocate for her relatives, the buffalo, until her dying day. Three months before she passed away, she co-wrote a powerful Open Letter to Tribal Leaders and the American People with BFC's Darrell Geist. Members of Rosalie's family will be present. The Walk ends with a candlelight vigil for all of the buffalo killed this year and in years past.

The Walk and the other events are in response to Montana and Yellowstone's management plan that is failing the wild buffalo of Yellowstone country, our national mammal and the country's last continuously wild herds. Montana and Yellowstone's current managment scheme is driving wild buffalo towards extinction.

"Our Week of Action aims to bring buffalo advocates together to build solidarity and help draw attention to and protest the killing of the country's last wild buffalo," said BFC co-founder Mike Mease.

Yellowstone, Montana, and other bison managers have aims to kill upwards of 900 of the gentle giants this winter, all to appease Montana’s infamous livestock industry. Close to 200 buffalo have already been killed this winter. Fewer than 4,700 wild buffalo exist.

"The country’s last wild buffalo — a sacred and keystone species who is our National Mammal — are in dire straights and we must rally together to demand that they are protected and allowed to flourish, not be slaughtered to satisfy the whims of the cattle industry," said Stephany Seay, media coordinator with BFC.

Week of Action Events:

February 12, Monday
BFC Headquarters, West Yellowstone, MT
Kick off the week at camp with a meet-and-greet, orientation, and feast before we begin the week’s events.

February 13, Tuesday
Gardiner, MT. First Annual Rosalie Little Thunder Memorial Walk
At 1:30 pm, gather at the Gallatin National Forest Gardiner Ranger District Office, 805 Scott St W, Gardiner, MT. We will begin our walk at 2:00 pm. We will walk through the town of Gardiner, past the Roosevelt Arch, and down Old Yellowstone Trail through Yellowstone National Park, The walk will end around 5:30, at the Beattie Gulch Trailhead, where we will share a meal and then hold a candlelight vigil in solidarity with wild buffalo and all of their advocates.

February 14, Wednesday
Bozeman, MT. Rally Through Downtown
We will have an information table at the Bozeman Library, 626 E Main St, Bozeman, MT, from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We will gather banners, signs, and puppets, and march up and down Main Street throughout the day. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

February 15, Thursday
BFC Headquarters. National Call-in Day and Day in the Field
A day of rest, direct action trainings, and field orientations for folks at camp. Everyone around the country and the globe will chime in and make Yellowstone’s and Montana’s phones ring off the hook as we hold our National Call-in Day. Targets and contact information will be forthcoming.

February 16, Friday
Helena, MT. Rally at the State Capitol
Meet on the steps of the state capitol building, 1301 East Sixth Avenue, from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. for a rally. We will have speakers from various Tribes, BFC, and other organizations to share their inspiration about wild buffalo. We anticipate drumming, singing, and story-telling. Possibly a visit to Governor Bullock’s office. Folks are also welcome to visit the office of the Montana Department of Livestock to share your feelings with them. A hot meal will be provided after the event. More details regarding speakers, etc., will be shared as available.

February 17, Saturday
West Yellowstone, MT. Rally Through West Yellowstone
Meet at BFC Headquarters by 8:00 am for breakfast, or by 11:30 to carpool to town, or meet at Buffalo Spirit at 12:00, 14 N Canyon St, West Yellowstone, MT. From noon until 3:00 p.m., we’ll break out the banners, signs, drums, and puppets and march through the town of West Yellowstone, which is the most visited entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

February 18, Sunday
BFC Headquarters. Gathering, Feasting, Trainings, and Story-Sharing
Enjoy a day in the field with the buffalo, learn from experienced activists, relish a delicious dinner, then share the stories and songs from your culture or your experiences, and learn from others. This close-down to our Week of Action is a bonding time that strengthens our solidarity as we move forward to defend the Earth from wherever we roam.