A plains bison herd has officially been protected as wildlife on provincial land near Banff National Park, giving the Banff bison the same protection as other wildlife should they wander out of the park and onto provincial land.

Several Indigenous elders are to be flown by helicopter into the backcountry of Banff National Park on Monday for a blessing ceremony as officials prepare to let recently reintroduced bison roam free.

After more than a century, wild Plains bison are back in Banff National Park.