Education is the new Bison
Tucked into the natural paths at The Forks, Education is the New Bison emerges like a quiet monument—an outdoor sculpture shaped as a buffalo, but made entirely of books. It’s a convergence of prairie tradition and future-thinking, speaking in metaphor and metal about where we’ve come from, and where we might go. This buffalo doesn’t roam. It stands—resolute, filled with knowledge, shaped by story.
This amazing sculpture was created by local artist Val T. Vint. It’s one of our favourite spots to spend time when down at the Forks.
Once, the buffalo sustained entire nations. It fed, clothed, and carried communities across the land. Today, this sculpture reminds us that education serves a similar role. In a world shaped by shifting economies, ecological upheaval, and cultural disconnection, education becomes sustenance—mental, emotional, even spiritual. This artwork is not just a symbol—it’s a call to action. It says: we must learn, together, or we’ll be left behind.
Seen in winter, surrounded by frost-bitten trees, the sculpture takes on a haunting kind of grace. It’s a reminder that even in stillness, in seasons of quiet, knowledge waits. Like the bison, it’s not gone—it’s transformed. It stands for continuity and care, a bridge between eras, generations, and ways of knowing. You don’t just see it—you feel its weight in your chest.
