Ep 10 - Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump with Jack Brink

In this episode, Mark and Curtis are in Edmonton Alberta with archaeologist and author Jack Brink. Jack was instrumental in helping uncover and tell the story of Aboriginal communal bison hunting at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is situated in the Porcupine Hills in southern Alberta. Jack discusses how bison were coaxed over the deadly jump using highly sophisticated hunting methods involving trickery, mimicry and an unrivaled understanding of bison behavior. Jack explains how the animals were processed at the butchering grounds and what a monumental task that was. We chat about what the best season was for driving bison to the buffalo jump, what specific animals were preferred as food, how long the jump was in use and why it came to an end. We also learn why Head-Smashed-In was the largest single gathering of food in the history of humankind.

 

Show Notes: 

Jack’s book: Imaging Head-Smashed-In. Aboriginal Buffalo Hunting on the Northern Plains. Athabasca University Press. Jack W. Brink 4th printing 2017. 

The proceeds from Jack’s book goes to the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta. 

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