Shon Bollock Advocates for Human and Animal Rights with the Last Wild Bison Project
ActivistShon Bollock Advocates for Human and Animal Rights with the Last Wild Bison Project
Meet Shon Bollock, entrepreneur, athlete, filmmaker, and activist. We chatted with him about the Last Wild Bison project and learned more about why protecting wild bison and indigenous populations is so important. Shon shared what kindness means to him and how he hopes his project will help spread kindness everywhere. – KH
Who is Shon Bollock?
Who am I? Such a complicated question to kick it off! When it comes down to it, I’m just someone trying give more than I take. I’m currently living in my hometown of Mt. Shasta, CA. I previously spent about ten years living between Santa Cruz for film school and Pacifica while working at GoPro. Most of my adult life has been centered around whitewater kayaking and filming those adventures. After GoPro, I started a small company called Locks Media, specializing in brand content and documentary film. When I’m not working, family time is important to me. My stress relievers include mountain biking, snowboarding, rafting, or snugs with my pup, Norm.
A kayaking trip that turned into a relief mission to Japan for the Fukushima disaster showed me true devastation, which really put things into perspective. I decided to redirect my focus from action sports to giving voices to marginalized people as well as vulnerable communities who are being exploited for their natural resources. I will always love action sports, but we are in a moment in time where it is important to focus on what we have to give to our planet versus continuing to highlight what we take from it.
Last fact about me…promise you won’t tell anyone? I may or may not have sung in jazz choir in high school.
Watch the Trailer for The Last Wild Bison
What inspired the Last Wild Bison project and what do you hope to achieve? What drew you to this issue in particular?
The inspiration for Last Wild Bison (LWB) stemmed from our desire to raise awareness about how bison are managed outside of Yellowstone National Park, as well as how the land has suffered from the removal of First Nations people and wild bison. David Miller, the writer and producer I worked with on LWB, was really the foundation of knowledge for this project. David has a long standing relationship with the Buffalo Field Campaign, so he clued me in on the slaughter still happening today around Yellowstone. I have always had a passion for history and animals, and this project was an opportunity to work with a well-established frontline activist group as well as a way to give back and spend time with the buffalo. We hope that our project will amplify native voices and shed light on what’s happening to the bison. We hope to attract a donor or foundation to aid in large land acquisitions around Yellowstone that could provide more space for wild bison to safely roam outside of the park.
What is the craziest/most interesting fact you have learned about bison in the USA?
Probably the most interesting fact that I have learned is the extent of the original grazing range for bison. We are talking tens of millions of wild bison ranging from West Virginia to Alaska. The craziest part is that bison reengineer their environments in order to promote fertile prairie lands. If we look at present day, many of the North American prairies are dead or dying, while the prairie lands located in Yellowstone National Park – where the buffalo still actively interact with the natural ecosystem – are thriving.
How would you define kindness and what does being a kind human mean to you?
Kindness to me is a goal, mindset, and challenge that gives us the opportunity to rise above reactivity. Being a kind human is being an honest champion of the environment and prioritizing giving back in whatever capacity we are able to. These days, I believe this starts with voting. During one of the most turbulent times in recent history, we are faced with rising above our own experience to understand the struggles of those around us.
Name three kind humans in your life that have positively affected you and why?
My father would have to start off the list. Growing up, I remember him always donating to various charities and volunteering locally, while sharing responsible ways to enjoy nature. Next, would be my brother. He is a privately practicing psychologist as well as the founder of a nonprofit called Living Evolution. This organization primarily works with at-risk youth and the homeless population in Santa Cruz through wilderness therapy and group therapy. Third would be James Holt, a Nez Perce (Pacific Northwestern indigenous tribe) elder and Executive Director of the Buffalo Field Campaign. I met James while shooting Last Wild Bison in West Yellowstone. The fluidity and truth of James’s interview greatly impacted me; the indigenous relationship to the land is what I respect the most.
What is a message, life lesson or kindness quote you want to spread and leave with the Kindhumans community?
“To be one with the lake, to be one with the trees – to understand that I’m no greater and no less.” – James L. Holt Sr.
