(Laramie, WY) – Elsa Freise, the recipient of the 2024 Larsh Bristol Photojournalism Fellowship, will give a public presentation about her work titled “Bison Tales: Capturing Conservation and Culture” at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, in Room 506 of the Coe Library at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
The project features Freise’s time spent working alongside the crew of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative last summer and documenting their efforts in conservation.
Freise – a UW zoology major from Buffalo with a minor in journalism – said she wanted her project to tell a story that would be historically significant to Wyoming and focused on the people of the state, and she was determined to be more than a passive observer – she wanted to fully engage with the community.
So she reached out to Jason Baldes, executive officer and board president of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, and traveled to the Wind River Reservation where she helped by tearing down fences and preparing meals.
“This summer was a dream come true,” she said in a UW press release this month. “I’ve always wanted to travel nomadically, and this experience allowed me to do that while working on something meaningful.”
She hopes her project will shed light on the history of Wyoming and the negative effects of bison extirpation, which reshaped the Great Plains and disrupted both ecosystems and the lives of Indigenous communities.
“As a zoology major, I have always been intrigued by our state’s mammal, the bison,” Freise said. “Additionally, Indigenous and marginalized communities are often disproportionately affected by climate change, yet, their leadership in conservation is crucial for equitable policies.
“There also are many misconceptions about the Wind River Indian Reservation, (and) through this project, I wanted to highlight the good work happening there – the strength, resilience and dedication to conservation and cultural revitalization.”
Freise’s photos will be exhibited on the third floor of the Coe Library through May 9.
The Larsh Bristol Photojournalism Fellowship is an annual award for UW students to support strong visual storytelling projects.
The deadline for submissions for the 2025 Larsh Bristol Photojournalism Fellowship is March 28.
For more information, email UW Department of Communication and Journalism Assistant Professor Shane Epping at sepping@uwyo.edu.