A UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Alberta received a shout-out last week on The Pitt.
Keen ears would’ve caught the reference peppered into dialogue between two characters during the HBO Max medical drama’s second-season première.
“Heard you’re going on a trip.” Patrick Ball’s Dr. Frank Langdon said to Noah Wyle’s Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch.
“Taking a sabbatical,” Robinavitch replied. “Leave tonight.”
“Where are you going?” Langdon asked.
“Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump,” Robinavitch answered.
UNESCO’s website says of the World Heritage Site, “In southwest Alberta, the remains of marked trails and an aboriginal camp, and a tumulus where vast quantities of buffalo (American bison) skeletons can still be found, are evidence of a custom practised by aboriginal peoples of the North American plains for nearly 6,000 years.”
The website says, “Using their excellent knowledge of the topography and of buffalo behaviour, they killed their prey by chasing them over a precipice; the carcasses were later carved up in the camp below.”
Staff at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump were unaware the brief bit of TV time was coming.
“We had no idea,” said Quinton Crowshoe.
“It was a pleasant surprise.”
Now, the staff hopes the shout-out will translate to plenty of visitors looking to learn the history of the area.
“We pride ourselves on being stewards of a sacred site,” Crowshoe said.
“(And bringing) more understanding of what the southern Alberta landscape has to offer and more specifically, what Head-Smashed-In has to offer in terms of the ancient buffalo hunt and the culture of the Blackfoot people.”
Tim Spotswood says catching the episode is responsible for his family’s first visit.
“We watch The Pitt. We love it. It’s a great show,” he said.
“(A) complete reference out of the blue got us really excited, so we came down today to check it out.
“We’ve had a ball. It’s awesome.”
Travel Alberta also featured the scene in a recent video.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.
An interpretive centre officially opened in 1987.
It will celebrate 40 years of operation next year.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump sees around 60,000 visitors annually.
Recently, discounted admission has been part of the Canada Strong Pass.
The site is located about 18 kilometres north and west of Fort Macleod on Secondary Hwy. 785, according to headsmashedin.ca.
The Pitt is fresh off of multiple wins at the Golden Globes this past Sunday in Beverly Hills.
The series took the award for Best Television Series—Drama.
Meanwhile, Wyle took the award for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series—Drama.
With files from Tyson Fedor
