Restoring Tradition: The Umatilla Tribe's Historic 2011 Bison Hunt Outside Yellowstone National Park After 100 Years

Restoring Tradition: The Umatilla Tribe's Historic 2011 Bison Hunt Outside Yellowstone National Park After 100 Years

In 2011, a significant moment in the history of the Umatilla tribe unfolded as they were granted the opportunity to hunt and harvest a bison just outside Yellowstone National Park for the first time in more than 100 years. This event marked the restoration of a centuries-old tradition that had been interrupted by policies of displacement, legal restrictions, and the near extinction of bison populations during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The hunt was not just a symbolic act, but a powerful restoration of cultural practices that had been guaranteed by a treaty signed in 1855. This return to the land outside Yellowstone was a reaffirmation of the tribe’s rights, their resilience, and their deep connection to the natural world.

The Historical Context of the Umatilla Tribe and Bison Hunting

The Umatilla are a Native American tribe from the Pacific Northwest, primarily located in the northeastern region of Oregon. Their traditional lands extended over parts of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Historically, the Umatilla people, along with other tribes in the region, depended heavily on the natural resources available to them for survival. One of the central components of their traditional way of life was hunting, particularly bison, a species that provided food, clothing, and materials for tools.

The bison played a crucial role in the lives of many Indigenous peoples across North America. These majestic creatures were central to the cultural, spiritual, and economic fabric of numerous tribes. For the Umatilla and other tribes, bison were more than just a source of sustenance—they were deeply intertwined with their spirituality and identity.

The Umatilla's connection to bison hunting was disrupted during the 19th century by the encroachment of European settlers and the policies that aimed to dismantle Native American societies. The U.S. government, seeking to expand its territories and industries, systematically destroyed bison herds across the Great Plains. By the late 1800s, bison were on the brink of extinction, and Native American tribes were increasingly displaced from their lands. This marked the end of an era of bison hunting for many tribes, including the Umatilla, and effectively severed the spiritual and cultural ties that they had maintained for centuries.

In 1855, the Umatilla entered into a treaty with the United States government. This agreement, known as the Treaty with the Umatilla, was one of the many treaties signed between the U.S. government and various Native American tribes during the mid-19th century. It was meant to protect the rights and sovereignty of the Umatilla people, including their right to continue their traditional ways of life, such as hunting bison. The treaty, however, was often ignored, and the tribe’s rights were trampled upon by settler encroachment, federal policies, and the ravages of the bison’s near extinction.

By the early 20th century, the Umatilla’s traditional hunting grounds had been reduced to small reservations, and they were left to adapt to the changing circumstances around them. For over a century, the tribe’s right to hunt bison was rendered largely meaningless as bison populations dwindled to near extinction, and the tribe's ability to exercise this right was hindered by legal, ecological, and political barriers.

The Restoration of Bison Populations and the 2011 Hunt

In the latter half of the 20th century, efforts to restore the bison population were initiated by conservationists, federal agencies, and Indigenous groups. Yellowstone National Park, which had been home to a bison herd since its establishment in 1872, became a focal point for these efforts. The Yellowstone bison, while resilient, were still a symbol of the broader struggles faced by bison populations across the continent. Through careful management, bison populations slowly began to grow.

The U.S. government had designated Yellowstone as the primary sanctuary for bison, where they would be protected from hunting. However, this protection did not extend to Indigenous tribes, whose ancestral ties to the bison were being disregarded. In the case of the Umatilla tribe, the federal government had ignored their treaty rights for more than a century. Still, despite this history, a series of legal and social changes in the 21st century brought attention to the injustices faced by Native American tribes, and efforts were made to right these wrongs.

In 2011, a remarkable decision was made. For the first time in over 100 years, the Umatilla tribe was allowed to hunt and harvest a bison near Yellowstone National Park. This hunt marked a powerful moment of cultural restoration and legal victory, as it was seen as the recognition of a long-standing right promised by the treaty of 1855. The hunt not only allowed the tribe to reconnect with their heritage but also signified the reclamation of their rights to practice their traditions on their ancestral lands.

The Role of the Treaty of 1855

The treaty signed between the Umatilla tribe and the United States in 1855 was a pivotal document in the history of Native American rights. As with many treaties between the U.S. government and Indigenous tribes, the agreement was intended to recognize and protect certain rights, including hunting, fishing, and gathering. The Treaty with the Umatilla guaranteed that the tribe could continue their traditional practices, including hunting bison, on their ancestral lands. However, over time, the Umatilla's rights were undermined, and their access to these resources was severely restricted.

The Umatilla tribe’s right to hunt bison in particular had been largely ignored, as the federal government implemented policies that restricted the tribe’s mobility, their access to land, and their ability to practice traditional hunting practices. As bison herds dwindled and the tribe’s access to their traditional hunting grounds was limited, the Umatilla were forced to adapt to new ways of life that did not include bison hunting.

The 2011 hunt was the culmination of years of advocacy and legal battles that sought to restore the tribe’s rights under the 1855 treaty. The Umatilla, along with other Indigenous tribes who had similar treaties, pushed for the recognition of their hunting rights in the context of bison restoration. They argued that the U.S. government’s promise had never been fully honored and that the tribe’s cultural and spiritual ties to bison needed to be recognized.

In 2011, the Umatilla tribe was able to take a significant step forward in reclaiming their treaty rights. They were permitted to hunt bison outside of Yellowstone, where a small herd had been reintroduced. This event was symbolic not just of the restoration of an old tradition, but also of a broader movement within Native American communities to assert their rights and reclaim their cultural heritage. The hunt was seen as an important moment of healing and empowerment for the tribe, as it reaffirmed their connection to the land and the animals that had been so central to their history.

The Significance of the 2011 Hunt

The 2011 hunt had profound cultural, political, and ecological significance for the Umatilla tribe. For the tribe, the ability to hunt bison once again was a moment of reconnection with their ancestral practices. It allowed them to restore a vital part of their heritage, which had been lost for generations. The act of hunting bison is not just about acquiring food but is deeply spiritual for many Indigenous peoples. It represents a way of life that is rooted in respect for the land, the animals, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

For the Umatilla, the hunt also carried great political weight. It was a victory in a long-standing battle to have their rights recognized by the federal government. The 2011 event was not only a personal victory for the tribe but also a step forward in the broader fight for Indigenous rights and sovereignty. It represented a reaffirmation of their treaty rights and a demonstration of their resilience in the face of centuries of marginalization.

Ecologically, the hunt was significant as well. It was part of a larger effort to manage the bison population in the Yellowstone region. Bison populations in the area had grown substantially and, in some cases, had become problematic for the park’s ecosystem. The Umatilla tribe’s participation in this hunt helped to manage the herd’s size while also providing a source of food and resources for the tribe. The hunt was part of a sustainable approach to bison management that integrated the tribe’s traditional knowledge and practices with modern ecological considerations.

Conclusion

The 2011 hunt by the Umatilla tribe outside Yellowstone National Park was a landmark event in the history of Native American rights and cultural restoration. For the first time in more than 100 years, the tribe was able to reconnect with a tradition that had been promised to them by the U.S. government in the Treaty of 1855. The hunt symbolized the restoration of their cultural heritage, the reclamation of their rights, and the revitalization of their deep connection to the natural world.

This event was not only a celebration of the tribe’s resilience but also a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by Native American communities to maintain their cultural practices and assert their rights. The 2011 bison hunt was a pivotal moment in the broader movement for Indigenous sovereignty, the recognition of treaty rights, and the ongoing fight to restore the cultural, spiritual, and ecological practices that have been central to Indigenous life for millennia.

Photo from iStock

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