The “Pioneer Rancher Mentality” began in 1492 using tools of the government to attempt to annihilate First Nations People through starvation by slaughtering all of the Buffalo. This is not totally dissimilar to what is occurring today to not only our Sacred Buffalo, but also our Sacred Wolves, our Sacred Grizzly Bear. The modern western rancher mentality continues to implement policies of genocide including death from above for wolves found to have killed cattle that are grazing on range land held through highly taxpayer subsidized leases by ranchers on all of our public lands.
Some appear to do it in hidden agendas away from public scrutiny. There are even those that have been “elected to represent” the public which carry on these same practices. We merely present the facts so that the Public can reach their own conclusions.
Photo Credit: Rarehistoricalphotos . com Bison bones were used in refining sugar, and in making fertilizer and fine bone china.
The US Army sanctioned and actively endorsed the wholesale slaughter of bison herds. The federal government promoted bison hunting for various reasons, to allow ranchers to range their cattle without competition from other bovines, and to weaken the North American Indian population. The US government even paid a bounty for each bison skull recovered. Military commanders were ordering their troops to kill bison — not for food, but to deny Native Americans their own source of food. One general believed that bison hunters “did more to defeat the Indian nations in a few years than soldiers did in 50 years.” By 1880, the slaughter was almost over. Where millions of bison once roamed, only a few thousand animals remained.
If those still subscribing to the mentality of yesteryear would only ask us to help them, it would not only benefit First Nations Sacred Wildlife, it would convey to all people that the ranchers care about more than the slaughtering that is taking place. If they would choose the high road (which includes working with our Native American religious groups) together we can accomplish a favorable outcome that the majority in America would agree upon.
We have presented a viable solution to this unsettling topic to both Washington WDFW as well as Wyoming DFW.
Photo Credits: William Henry Jackson joined the U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey (now USGS) in 1870 as a photographer for the Hayden Survey of the western territories. Each summer for eight years, Jackson traveled with the Survey through almost unknown regions of the West, and was the first to photograph Yellowstone. In 1871 he sold his studio in Omaha, Nebraska, and moved to Washington, D. C., where he spent the winters cataloguing and printing the negatives he had made. The Hayden Survey was discontinued in 1879.
The policies of today’s mindset are rooted in the past fast forwarding to over 500 years later. Our Nation as a whole should be aware of not only our shortcomings, but those of the officials that we have voted into those offices that are in charge of managing our wildlife in not just a scientific manner, but also more in tune with various beliefs that animals are in fact Sacred not just in Native American Religious practices, but those of several other religious beliefs.
Cattle Arrived on our Continent in 1493 with Columbus.
We must understand how this process works. There is a pattern to understand, it is the same pattern that is constantly pushing, and it is a pattern that repeats itself.
1. They move near, occupy colonize land, take resources, displaced colonized people, and start friction.
2. The colonized people get upset.
3. The colonizer increases the irritation or takes something essential, forcing a confrontation.
4. The natives get more upset; start protesting, complaining, or resisting.
5. The colonizer escalates the threat, by pretending authority of law.
6. The colonizer employs violence against the outcries of the colonized, under the pretense of preserving civil order.
7. There is violence.
8. The colonizer forces the colonized people out, by force, and occupies the land.
9. Start over at number 1
These same things are happening today, with “rancher” replacing “colonizer” although I must add, that we have been privileged to meet other public land lease holding ranchers that do actually agree that our native species were here before them and as such should be allowed to remain.
The first cows brought to the Americas by explorer Christopher Columbus originated from two extinct wild beasts from India and surprisingly the origins of Columbus’ cattle founded these new world breeds, such as the Texas longhorn, derived from two separate lineages originating in Europe and India, new research suggests.
Credit: David Hillis
If all involved would choose the high road, not making threats etc. Which includes working with our Native American religious group or groups together we can accomplish a favorable outcome that the majority in America would agree upon.