Buffalo Update!*******

I know it's been awhile since you heard from us...it's been a busy summer for buffalo activists here in Montana! Distribution of educational materials, indigenous councils, federal legislation, producing videos and planning our winter campaign to start with.
 

Please read over the enclosed update.

If you can, hand out some of our brochures in your community!!!
 
Keep checking in to the web site to see what else you can do to help.
 
Please contact Buffalo Nations with any ideas, questions or donations!

Same web page (they are constantly adding new pages!)

or email
 
Please Pass This Update On!!!
 

thank you!

for the buffalo!
 

Buffalo Nations Update

 * Newsletters
 
Over 60,000 copies of Buffalo Nations and Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers newsletters have been distributed all over the world. These news letters informed people of the 1100 buffalo slaughtered by the state of Montana and discussed some feasible alternatives to stop the killing.
 

* Distribution
 
1) Presence in Yellowstone National Park-

Since June 1997 Buffalo Nations has tabled both inside the Park and surrounding towns.,
providing educational outreach materials. These tables are instrumental in educating thousands of tourists who do not completely understand the severity of the issue.
 
2) Over 200 business in Montana alone are distributing both newsletters. (Many other stores, groups and individuals are distributing throughout the U.S.)
 
3) Buffalo Bus-A VW van converted into a three dimensional buffalo with the Buffalo Nations name, address and phone on the side. As imagined, the buffalo bus is a real eye-catcher and makes appearances at fairs and other major events.
 

* Mailing List/ Membership
 
1) Tabling, business distributions, individual and group outreach programs have helped compile an active mailing list of over 7000 people wishing to lend support.
 
2) Approximately 3500 concerned citizens have either sent donations or signed up to be Buffalo Nations members.
 
 
* Conferences
 
1) Holding a conference of traditional Native American elders to come together on a solution to the buffalo slaughter.
 
 
* Federal Buffalo Bill
 
1) Formulating a Bill to be introduced to the United States Congress on protecting the last wild buffalo herd.
 
2) Sending and funding a lobbyist to Washington D.C. to push the Bill.
 
 
* Media Out Reach
 
1) Producing a 5 minute, 3 minute, and three 30 second public service announcements on the buffalo slaughter and information on proposed legislation. 

2) Producing an hour long documentary about the slaughter for a national television broadcast
 
 

* Winter Campaign ( a biggie!!!!!...keep checking in!)
 
1) Offer a buffalo hazing service to ranchers who in past years have had no other alternatives than to have the buffalo killed by the Montana Department of Livestock. The service will be provided to two towns where buffalo are killed , West Yellowstone and Gardiner, Montana.
 
2) Repairing fences of local ranchers that are damaged by the buffalo and other wildlife as they migrate to traditional wintering grounds.
 
3) Contact local ranch supplies stores and request donations that will enable quality repairs.
 
4) Organize hazing efforts with the aid of snowmobiles, cross-country skis, and snowshoes to prevent the buffalo from being killed as they wander into the state of Montana.
 
5) Feeding the buffalo if necessary, to keep them from coming into Montana.
 
6) Conducting aerial fly-overs with Project LightHawk to document the condition of the buffalo herd inside Yellowstone National Park.
 
7) Document and distribute all occurrences of the winter by video, photos and news stories.
 
8) Keeping concerned citizens, businesses, groups, our mailing list and members informed of the situation as it develops through newsletter updates, e-mail and videos.
 

* How You Can Help
 
1) Volunteer to come out to Montana this winter and help with the campaign. (great skiing!!)
 
2) Contact us about the Buffalo Bill and start phone trees, letter writing and petition signing campaigns in your state to get it passed.
 
3) Help distribute our all ready existing newsletters in your communities.
 
4) Internships- Earn college credits while saving buffalo.
 

* Buffalo Nations- NEEDS LIST
 
Computer

Fax Machine

Snowmobiles and Trailer

Snowshoes

Cross-country Skis

4-wheel drive trucks

snow tires

Wall Tents

Wood Stoves for wall tents

Propane Heater

cooking gear

winter- boots, clothing, gloves, hats

chain saws, axes, splitting maul

winter sleeping bags

cots

therma-rests

tarps

Video Camera (Sony digital 3 chip) & tapes

Media 100 Software for Macintosh

35 mm Cameras

film

VCR machine (for dubs)

Video tapes
 
Fence repair supplies (wood, tools, etc.)

Food
 
File Cabinets

tax deductible money donations
 
Contact Buffalo Nations at:
 
Buffalo Nations
P.O. Box 242
Gardiner, Mt. 59030-0242
p- 406-848-9867
f- 406-848-7694
e-mail-buffalo@wildrockies.org