About the Trail
The Buffalo Connections Trail (in Dakota, Wamákhaškaŋškaŋ - “All that moves on the land” and in Nakoda, Pté Bahá Ocą́gu - “Buffalo Hills”) is a project that supports efforts of a Fort Peck grassroots initiative (Pté Group – Pté means female buffalo in Assiniboine and Sioux) to engage Fort Peck tribal members reservation-wide in community building initiatives intended to rejuvenate ongoing and life-giving connections with their buffalo relatives.
The premise of this ongoing effort is that as the bison prosper, so will all people who connect with them for learning, spiritual development, physical and mental health, and well-being. There are varying collaborations—all related to connections with the Buffalo—between Fort Peck Community College, Fort Peck Tribal Departments, Montana State University and World Wildlife Fund that relate to different tracks of the project. The intended trail runs 4 miles through the Buffalo lands Cultural Buffalo Pastures with “story poles” (structures that visitors can engage with in culturally meaningful ways) along it.
History of the Trail
The trail and story pole design work began in spring 2016 with a graduate architectural design studio at Montana State University. It builds on extensive collaborative research (2013), public education and fund raising (2015–2022) led by faculty and staff in the MSU Colleges of Education, Health & Human Development, and Arts & Architecture.
The trail and story poles will be constructed on the southern end of the Fort Peck Turtle Mound Buffalo Ranch that hosts Yellowstone buffalo. There are four “story pole” designs that each offer a creative cultural activity—an abstract Sundance pole with a wrapping stair to allow observation of buffalo; an abstract diamond willow pole that allows buffalo to rub on it, leaving their sacred hair behind; a series of wind flute poles that community members can “play” on windy days; and a constellation orienting pole for star gazing.
Five major grants and several smaller grants have been awarded to fund various components of the trail and poles. The “Woven Willow” and “Wind Flute” were developed with funds from a National Park Service grant. A National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant is currently being used to construct the final “Woven Willow” story pole (to be installed in June 2022) and to construct the “Vision Tower” story pole. A State Trails grant is being used for design and construction of the main parking lot and an accessible path from the entrance to the “Woven Willow”.
A rendering of the Wiyazo (Whistle) story pole
Computer visualizations and 3D scale models created by MSU/School of Architecture are a critical component of the ongoing community process that engages reservation youth and elders in the design development phases of the project. The “Star Gaze” story pole is not yet fully designed and funds are needed to complete the design and construction.
Directions to the Trail
From US 2 turn north onto Chelsea Loop Rd
Continue for 6.5 mi
Turn right at 17 2053
Continue on Rd 2052 for 0.6 mi
Destination is on the Left
