The Chilcotin'sĀ wild horses areĀ are romantic and beautiful, but they are also controversial: they are seen by government policy as intruders competing for range land with native species and domestic cattle and, as a result, they have been subject to culls and are not officially protected.
In this compelling book, wildlife biologist Wayne McCrory draws upon two decades of research to make a case for considering these wonderful creatures, calledĀ qiyusĀ in traditional T?ilhqot'in culture, a resilient part of the area's balanced prey-predator ecosystem. McCrory also chronicles the Chilcotin wild horses' genetic history and significance to the T?ilhqot'in, juxtaposing their efforts to protectĀ qiyusĀ against movements to cull them.