Buffalo Allies of Bozeman
This is the new site of Buffalo Allies of Bozeman (formerly at http://bozemanactivist.wordpress.com).
We are a a consensus-based grassroots organization in the Bozeman, Montana area focused on:
- stopping the slaughter and hazing of Yellowstone’s wild buffalo herds;
- promoting the expansion of free-roaming buffalo outside of Yellowstone National Park;
- conserving the natural habitat of the buffalo herds;
- allying with and giving solidarity to groups working on related missions; and,
- supporting a diversity of strategies and tactics to achieve the previous tenets of our mission.
Nomenclature
You are not helping your cause by misnaming the creatures you wish to protect. The only true buffaloes are cape buffaloes and water buffaloes which I believe here in North America are all kept in zoos. If you wish to protect bison, then that's what you should call them and your organization. That is their proper name of which you should be aware. To further promote the misnaming of these animals may be counterproductive. I support the protection of bison but will never support any organization that doesn't use their proper name.
Re: proper names
Buffalo Allies of Bozeman reached its name by the consensus of group members.
Several considerations at the meeting went into choosing the name "Buffalo" over the name "Bison."
First of all, if you want to be technical, the proper name of bison is Bison bison; the point here is that "proper" name is a prejudice against a particular way of naming. The two names, the group felt, "bison" or "buffalo" are understood to be the same thing; those who can't tell the buffalo in Yellowstone from the buffalo in other continents are rare.
Secondly, since "buffalo" and "bison" mean the same thing, the question became why choose one over the other, or an indigenous name (for example, tatanka). We did not choose an indigenous name out of fear of being presumptuous. We did not have a member of an indigenous tribe in our group (at that moment), and it would presume a name for ourselves that we have no reason to do so. Secondly, we considered historically which groups tend to take "bison" in their names versus those who take "buffalo." Historically, groups that have tended to support the government, tended not to support the aims of our mission, have often taken the more scientific nomenclature of "bison." Indigenous groups, other allied groups, and those who have tended to support something like our mission have used the word "buffalo." Since a key aspect of our group is solidarity with other like-minded groups, we felt that "buffalo" was a better word choice from a connotative standpoint.
It is true that "buffalo" is a word of imposition placed by Euroamericans on these animals; however, like "American Indian," it has often been the case in our history that words of imposition have been used by those who have fought against the worst elements of that imposition. So, if our allies in the movement - including indigenous groups - are comfortable with calling the animals "buffalo," so are we.
That said, we do not refuse to call the animals "bison;" we simply choose not to give ourselves that name.
Finally, we are sorry that you will not support any organization "that does not use their proper name." It is too bad you put the use of a name over support of the animals themselves, even if we otherwise might be like minded. That seems to go against the principle of solidarity that is in our mission. We urge you to rethink that position; we cannot know what the buffalo themselves would choose to be called. So, we should put them first and not divide on semantical lines.
Proper Names
I agree with the person stating that you should have called yourselves the "Bison" Allies of Bozeman. That is, after all, their proper name. Furthermore, I propose that we rename all of the organizations, cities, and whatnot that incorrectly use "buffalo" in their names. The Buffalo Field Campaign should become the Bison Field Campaign. Buffalo, New York should become Bison, New York. Following along those lines, we would now have: "Bison" Bill Cody, Bison, Wyoming, the University of Colorado Bisons, Bison Wings, the Bison Bills, bison berries, the bison nickel, and so on and so forth.
Please attend to this matter on your end as it is of the utmost importance.
Pkocshuka 'Bison' 'Buffalo'
I was one of the first to question the 'name' of the group. Just like what was mentioned before. It's all in the interpretation of the word. My native tongue would be Pkocshuka. I'm of the Citizen Band Potawatomi Nation/white. Just bcause one calls a gohper a ground squirrel. A ground hog; a Horay Marmot, or wood chuck/rock chuck. It is all in the interpretation. Bottom line they need our help!