This story unfolds in November of 2001 when the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB) placed 82 historic wild horses from the Virginia Range in Nevada on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. This was the glorious reunification of the wild horse with the Native people. The herd was to be maintained in a conservation program and the offspring of the herd were to be given to the Lakota children. A tourism center was to be developed stimulating the economy of a community where 80% unemployment prevails.

The ceremony, celebrating the return of these ancient ancestors, was magnificent with hundreds of buffalo standing on the hilltop in a semi-circle observing the beating of the drums and songs that had not been sung in 150 years. As the horses were released, the buffalo slowly turned around and moved off with the horses racing behind. It was a spectacular sight and one that is embedded in ones heart and soul.

The marriage of conservation and economic development works well in Africa and should work in our country. Where could one go to see wild horses and buffalo roaming the prairies? Yet, in September of 2007, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe faced losing the 22,000-acre ranch where the Buffalo Nation and Horse Nation thrived. The buffalo were sold to market and the wild horses were given back to ISPMB. During the six-year period, neither tourism nor the children’s horse program ever got off the ground.

Facing a cold winter, the horses were gathered and slowly removed over the next two months. The census of the horses peaked at 300 animals. No wonder since the horses came from scrub high desert vegetation to lush prairie grass. The day the decision for removal came down from Tribal Council, I visited the horses and watched as they galloped by on the open prairie as free as days of yore of their ancestors. The grass was knee-high after a fresh rain. It was this vision that now haunts me – the loss of their freedom and the end of a dream.

Or is it an end of a dream? Can we raise enough funding ($4 million) now to purchase land where they will once again run free and where ISPMB will develop the tourism park? We have found property that would be ideal for both and it would grow enough hay to feed our other three herds.

ISPMB has retained the original 80 branded horses to preserve this historic herd. Yet, with extraordinary efforts and with the cooperation of the Tribe, we successfully placed 220 wild horses into qualified homes. They were given to the people with the intention that they were to be honored and protected and that consequences for any mistreatment would be handled by the “Grandfathers” and Wakan Tanka (The Great Spirit). After all, these animals came back to the people in ceremony and it is understood that they are sacred.
Facing the Future: ISPMB took these extra horses on without the funding for hay or veterinary costs. Because these horses may someday be extinguished from their rightful home in Nevada, we may eventually have all that is left of this historic herd. They were protected in 1952 by ISPMB’s first president, Wild Horse Annie. Imagine having to protect wild horses from poisoning of water holes and inhumane round ups, but that is what Annie did. She could view these horses from her back yard. Many of you may remember Annie (Velma Johnston), the woman who saved wild horses from extermination on our public lands in the West.

Now the future of wild horses rests in our hands as we have fewer wild horses now than in 1971 when they were nearly eradicated. Can we save these animals for future generations to enjoy? Yes we can with your help.

Here is what we need and maybe, just maybe, we can do this together.

· Funding to purchase much needed hay (Our winter supply is already gone with the extra mouths to feed- costs are $5,000 per week.)
· Land to keep wild horses running free (A permanent home for a herd)
· People willing to work on a Capital Fundraising Campaign to help us purchase our dream ranch
· Volunteers committed to raising funds or placing horses into qualified homes

For more information: please contact Karen Sussman 605-964-6866 or visit our website at www.ispmb.org
Help Us Save a Living Legacy

Source: Native American Times

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 12:33 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.