It’s been 50 years since Canada signed the UNESCO Heritage Site Convention, in order to preserve historical sites with unique cultural, historical and natural importance. National Trust for Canada held a special event at Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump to help mark the occasion. It was one of three events held at different sites across Canada to mark the milestone. “When Canada decided to join the World Heritage Convention 50 years ago, it agreed to become part of a world movement to protect heritage places of importance,“ said National Trust Canada CEO Patricia Kell. ”And so, by taking on that, by signing this treaty, it put itself shoulder to shoulder with other countries around the world." Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Since then, plenty of work has gone into preserving the site and its stories. It had been used by various Indigenous groups for nearly 6,000 years before European contact. It’s one of the world’s oldest, largest, and best preserved buffalo jumps in the world. “It’s a sacred site,” said Quinton Crow Shoe, who’s Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump’s marketing and events coordinator. “It dates back 6,000 years. “It always has been a sacred site, it always will be,” he added. “Our people still come here to to make connection with creator and leave offerings and visit this site, (to) pay tribute to our ancestors.” Canada is home to 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including six in Alberta. Those involved in preserving these sites are taking stock in just how far they’ve come. “These 22 places in Canada and counting, are of such importance in the world, on the world scale that they are worthy of preservation and celebration,” Kell said. It’s more than just locals or even Canadians who benefit from Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump being preserved. Each day visitors from around the world travel to visit the area and learn its history. “It gives us the opportunity to to share our way of life,” said Crow Shoe, “but not only share to, retain it. “Our young people who work here learn the stories. They gain a sense of identity, a sense of pride -- and they they share those stories with with folks from around the world.”
