In 1984, interested people from the bison production community formed the Peace Country Bison Association. In their own words, this group aimed to “promote, encourage, develop and protect the bison industry; and to represent those persons producing and marketing bison and bison products.” The Peace Country Bison Association was a part of the larger Canadian Bison Association, which also had similar aims.
It is important to know the history of bison in Alberta to understand why this group formed. Before Europeans colonized the prairies, wild bison were abundant. Historically, many Indigenous groups on the interior plains of Canada heavily relied on buffalo hunting. Two types of bison, the plains bison and the wood bison, lived in Alberta. According to the Canadian Bison Association, more than 10 million bison lived on the Canadian Prairies before European colonization. By the end of the 19th century, the plains bison were wiped from the prairies. A small number of wood bison remained, but their numbers too were decimated. The loss of wild bison is largely attributed to over-hunting by European fur traders to supply their expeditions, and in later years, they were hunted for their hides to make leather. This had lasting impacts on the Indigenous and Metis groups that traditionally relied on bison hunting.
Given the state of the wild bison population at the close of the 19th century, intense conservation efforts were needed throughout the 20th century to repopulate the species. The Peace Country Bison Association grew out of these efforts to reestablish populations through ranchers. The association contributed to the newly reintroduced bison population by conducting and participating in research studies. Particularly, the group was involved in issues like keeping the bloodlines of plains and wood bison separate in Wood Buffalo National Park.
The group had many different projects that promoted the bison industry. In conjunction with the Alberta Bison Association and the Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, the Peace Country Bison Association made the Bison Centre of Excellence in Leduc. Its purpose was to “assist new and established producers as well as marketers. Providing these producers and marketers with up-to-date information ensures our commitment to the further development of this dynamic industry.” The Peace Country Bison Association also released newsletters to the community, called Bison News. These newsletters included various topics ranging from bison cooking tips, information on ungulate diseases, and updates on research studies. To promote the consumption of bison meat, the club released a cookbook featuring exclusively bison meat recipes, including “Buffroganoff” and “Bison Nibbles.”
The Peace Country Bison Association was formed in response to the re-emergence of the bison market in Alberta. By the 1980s, bison meat was breaking into the mainstream market. Today, many restaurants and grocers offer options that include bison meat. Though the historical decimation of bison and its impact on Indigenous communities cannot be undone, the bison population in Alberta has flourished in the 21st century. With the support of groups like the Peace Country Bison Association and the Canadian Bison Association, bison meat has returned to the dinner table to stay.