In the early 20th century, thousands of Ojibwe ponies roamed the northern United States and Canada, and had most likely been doing so for hundreds of years. It’s not accurate to say that by 1977 there were no Ojibwe ponies, because there were four. Just four of them. But today, community members have the rare opportunity to see the small but beautiful breed for themselves at “The Humble Horse.” The event will take place this afternoon on the UW-Madison Campus at Babcock Hall. Darcy Whitecrow, who is Ojibwe and Dakota and a member of the Seine River First Nation band in Northwestern Ontario, will share information from Ontario about the pony’s history, revival and connection to the Ojibwe people. On this edition of the Friday Buzz, Whitecrow and his partner Kimberly Campbell join host Andy Moore to talk about the unique history and nature of the ponies, as well as the role Whitecrow played in bringing them back to the Seine River.

Darcy Whitecrow and his partner Kimberly Campbell live in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Together, they founded Grey Raven Ranch, a non-profit after-school equine program for at-risk Seine River First Nation youth. Whitecrow also co-authored a picture book, “Runs with the Stars,” and plans to release another in 2025.

Photo courtesy of Second Story Press via their website

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