Name/Title
Bison (Bison bison)Entry/Object ID
2001.01.97Description
Taxidermy - Trophy mount of mammal
Of the two surviving species, the American Bison (Bison bison), found only in North America, is more numerous that the European Bison. Although often referred to as a buffalo in the United States and Canada, it is only distantly related to the true buffalo. The American bison is the largest surviving terrestrial animal in North America. They are broad and muscular with shaggy coats of long hair. Adults grow up to 2 m in height and 3.5 m in length and can weigh up to 1,270 kg. They are nomadic grazers and travel in herds.
The subspecies of this trophy is not identified. There are two subspecies: the Plains Bison (Bison bison bison or montanae), and the Wood Bison, (Bison bison athabascae), which is the namesake of Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It is the second-largest national park in the world.Context
From the early 1800s until the 1870s, plains bison were the main source of subsistence (food, clothing and household articles) and income for the Métis, known as the "Buffalo Hunters". The Métis are an Indigenous people whose historical homelands include Canada's three Prairie Provinces, as well as parts of B.C. and the Northwest Territories, with smaller populations in northwest Ontario and the northern U.S. The Métis dominated in the lucrative pemmican* trade in the late 1700s into the 1800s, beginning with their organization of the buffalo hunt and the institution of "Laws of the Prairies" in order to try to protect this finite resource. The Métis Nation's gross national product from this source was reportedly larger than that of either the fledgling nation of Canada or the United States. Later in the 19th century, bison nearly became extinct through hunting and disease. However, recovery efforts in North America have been successful with a resurgence of populations in national parks and in the wild.
*Pemmican is a calorie-rich mixture of tallow, dried meat (traditionally buffalo), and sometimes dried berries, herbs, spices and honey.
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The early members of the Union Club of British Columbia enjoyed the scenic splendours and the many opportunities for sports fishing and big game hunting across the province. Over time, the Club became noted for its outstanding collection of mounted taxidermy items. Of note, in 1910 the Club loaned this collection to the Dominion Government for international exhibition in Vienna (details unknown).
It appears that the mounted Wolf Eel (2001.01.100) may be the only survivor of the original early 20th century collection. For further detail - see Susan Mayse, "The Union Club of British Columbia - Our First 125 Years" (Victoria, B.C.: The Union Club of British Columbia, 2004):59, and Paul L. Bissley, "Early and Late Victorians: A History of the Union Club of British Columbia" (Sidney, B.C.: Review Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., 1969). Both publications are available in the UCBC Library.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
UnknownRole
TaxidermistDate made
n.d.Time Period
19th Century, 20th CenturyNotes
Stuffed and mounted Bison head with horns. Faces front.Acquisition
Acquisition Method
LoanNotes
On loan from Duncan Ayre, UCBC Member. See file.Relationships
Related Entries
Notes
2023.03.01 'Bison Mask 2' by Rick Rivet