The Jamestown Sun - Bison One Step Away From Becoming U.S. National Mammal

News Article

By Tom LaVenture

The bison is one step away from becoming the national mammal of the United States.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the National Bison Legacy Act Tuesday evening following the Senate's approval in December of the bill sponsored by Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. Hoeven's office said it expects the Senate to concur with the House version this week and send the legislation to the president to be signed into law.

"We're really pleased from the standpoint of ranchers and landowners," said Dave Carter, executive director of the National Buffalo Association in Westminster, Colo.

The Bison Legacy Act reflects the working relationship among private ranchers, conservationists and tribes for over a decade, Carter said. Each brings a different perspective and priority to the table and a mutual love and respect for bison, he said.

"We want to work together as much as we can to promote the bison and continue to restore it to private landscapes, tribal lands and conservation communities where more of the public will get to enjoy bison," Carter said.

The Vote Bison Coalition was instrumental for passing legislation that has failed in the past, Hoeven said. The Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council that includes around 50 Native American tribes, the National Bison Association and Wildlife Conservation Society worked in a common cause to recognize the historical, cultural and economic significance of the bison.

"Those three groups of the Vote Bison Coalition and their footsoldiers helped us move the legislation through Congress and we hope to have an induction ceremony sometime this summer," Hoeven said Wednesday.

The Bison Legacy Act induction ceremony should touch the hearts of Americans in the same way the dedication of North Dakota's Sakakawea statue at the U.S. Capitol did on Oct. 16, 2003, Hoeven said.

"It will be a great ceremony," he said.

Hoeven said Jamestown has the World's Largest Buffalo statue, the National Buffalo Museum and a live herd for people to see, including White Cloud, an albino bison. His office is planning events in North Dakota for the Bison Legacy Act this summer that will include the museum, he said.

Ilana Xinos, executive director of the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown, said the Bison Legacy Act will make the museum and Jamestown more visible. The museum houses the collections and the hall of fame for the National Buffalo Foundation and averages 21,000 to 25,000 visitors per year.

"More people are interested in bison," Xinos said. "People are interested in hearing about the rejuvenation of the population and exploring the history as it relates to Native American and American identity, and about the bison industry and bison products."

Searle Swedlund, executive director of Jamestown Tourism, said that Jamestown is proud to be identified as the Buffalo City and its association with the bison as an American icon. Part of the goal of Tourism is to help visitors from all over the world share the experience and importance of this majestic animal.

"Propelling the bison to the status of national mammal gives Jamestown one more way to share the story of this great animal," Swedlund said.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., co-sponsored a Senate version and U.S. Reps. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and José Serrano, D-N.Y., sponsored the House version.

Hoeven said much of the leg work was done by Steven Engelhardt with Clay's office, and Hoeven's own staffer, Brita Endrud, who works on agriculture issues and is from a family farm in North Dakota.

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