Summary:
Twenty kilometers east of Huxley, Alberta is a canyon that is rich in plant and animal life. Echoes of Native culture from the past resound through the canyon. This is where Canadas Plains Indians drove buffalo herds over a forty-five meter high cliff. The Jump was also a ceremonial place for a least one tribe.

Details or Sample:
For years the people of Huxley, Alberta fought to preserve a canyon 20 kilometers east of their small village. The canyon was rich with plant and animal life. Echoes of Native culture resounded through the canyon.

In 1970, the Alberta government declared the canyon Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park. The Red Deer River twists its way, like a ribbon, through the bottom of the picturesque valley. It is a sight to behold.

Some of Alberta"s best freshwater fish fossils have been found in a coulee near Big Valley Stream that enters the canyon from the east.

On the west side of the park is the forty-five meter high cliff face that still holds bone fragments from ancient Native buffalo hunts. Pottery fragments, Indian graves and fire pits have been found at the bottom of the jump where Native hunters drove the buffalo over the cliffs to their death. These items indicate that "the jump" was a ceremonial ground for at least one tribe.

Long ago, buffalo and wild horses roamed the canyon. Now, there are 452 flowering plant species, 22 different types of mammals and 150 transient or nesting bird groups such as golden eagles and short-eared owls.

Lush fescue grows on Dry Island but silver berry, buffalo berry, buckbrush, wildrose, pin cherry, willows, hawthorn and cinqufoil shrubs grow throughout the canyon. Junipers grow on the uplands. In the valley near the river, you can find shrubs and poplar. On the northeast side, there are willows, balsam poplar and aspens.

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Written by: Mary M. Alward
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Words: 860