WINNIPEG — A beloved white bison who symbolized the spirit and culture of Indigenous Peoples has died in Winnipeg. The Assiniboine Park and Zoo says 21-year-old Blizzard died after undergoing a procedure to address a decline in his health. Blizzard arrived at the zoo in a snowstorm in 2006 as a gift from an anonymous American rancher, and over two decades became one of its most recognizable and cherished animals. The zoo says Blizzard held a special place in the hearts of many people, and carried a profound cultural and spiritual significance for many Indigenous peoples. A Lakota legend speaks of a mystical maiden who once appeared to help teach people to pray, then promised to return to usher in a period of peace and, upon leaving turned, into a white buffalo calf. A white bison calf is extremely rare, with the odds put at on in a million, if not even more rare. A book of condolences and an offering bowl will be available at the zoo starting this weekend. Staff consulted with Indigenous advisers and community members on meaningful ways to honour Blizzard’s life. “Blizzard’s legacy will endure through the many people he inspired and the conversations he sparked about conservation, culture and our connection to the natural world,” the zoo said in a social media post on Friday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2026.
