Tribe looks to teenagers to revive bison demand

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FOOD_AND_FARM_BISON_HERITAGE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-13-10-18-33

FLANDREAU, S.D. (AP) -- It seems an unlikely concept: teenagers forgoing the immediacy of a McDonald's Big Mac to don an apron, grab a meat patty and learn how to cook their own lower-fat version in the kitchen.

But for a group of students at the Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota, they're doing just that while learning about bison, an animal considered sacred in their Native American culture.

The students are part of a pilot project started by the Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe and South Dakota State University researchers to restore the cultural significance of the animal, also called buffalo, and consumption of its meat among community members, particularly young people. Through cooking demonstrations and educational outreach opportunities, the students are learning that there are healthier, tasty options that also connect them to their ancestors more than any prepackaged meat or drive-thru order could.

"You can't go to Hy-Vee and just pick up ground buffalo to actually get the spiritual connection. I think that's kind of been lost," said Geriann Headrick, acting food service manager at the Flandreau Indian School, referring to a regional supermarket chain.

[HopeHoops]

1. It was sacred because they used every part of the animal.

Poachers would just take the skins and leave the carcasses to rot. Talk about fostering hard feelings!

It's still far better meat than any of the mega-farm creatures, but why eat it at all? Meat implies the death of a fellow creature. I ate it long ago, but my daughters are all three life-long vegetarians (with a few samples when they were young). Okay, okay. (stepping down from soap box).

[DavidDvorkin]

2. I think that's a myth.

[cthulu2016]

3. +1

[Jean V. Dubois]

4. Why eat it? Well for starters, it's darned yummy.

Given that i don't consider a buffalo a "fellow", that's reason enough, yes?