REGINA – A new outdoor art installation on a Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) property in the Qu’Appelle Valley celebrates Indigenous connections to the land by reviving the tradition of buffalo effigies.
Led by Indigenous artist and storyteller Carol Rose GoldenEagle, the installation took shape on June 10, with the support of Grade 7 and 8 students from South Shore School in Regina Beach. The effigy, a stone formation in the shape of a buffalo, is now visible from Highway 54, west of Lumsden Beach Camp, on NCC’s Colvin property, approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Regina.
“The buffalo has always been a powerful symbol of life, resilience and our connection to the land,” says Carol Rose GoldenEagle, Indigenous artist, storyteller and project lead.
“Creating this effigy with young people during National Indigenous History Month was an opportunity to share stories, honour those connections and leave a visible reminder of the history and significance of this place for future generations."
GoldenEagle and the South Shore School students built the buffalo effigy out of approximately 500 rocks, repurposed from a historic stone wall that once surrounded the former yard site on the property.
The buffalo has long held deep cultural, spiritual and ecological significance for Indigenous peoples across the Prairies, and these large-scale monuments were historically created to honour this magnitude, according to the NCC.
“This project is a wonderful example of how conservation can create space for cultural expression, learning and connection,” says Andrea Laughren, Regional vice-president for the Prairie Region, Nature Conservancy of Canada.
“We are honoured to support Carol Rose GoldenEagle’s vision and to see local students involved in an initiative that celebrates Indigenous heritage while strengthening people’s connection to this remarkable landscape in the Qu’Appelle Valley.”
GoldenEagle received funding from the Saskatchewan Arts Board to support the initiative, which was intended to honour the Indigenous heritage of this part of the Qu’Appelle Valley. Her inspiration came from a striking buffalo effigy she observed near Lebret, where the hillside installation overlooks a major roadway, creating an eye-catching and meaningful landmark for passersby.
The new buffalo effigy marks National Indigenous History Month with an opportunity to reflect on Indigenous culture, history and relationships with the land, says NCC. GoldenEagle’s work with the buffalo effigy shows how conservation can help support cultural understanding and foster community engagement and a shared commitment to the natural world, the organization adds.
