(Last Updated: 6 years ago)
The weight of a profound experience often takes time to settle, to truly permeate the heart and inform future actions. So it was after a particularly moving encounter with the buffalo. Only after many days could the initial joy give way to a deeper contemplation of the present realities facing these magnificent creatures and their inextricable link to the Native people.
The history of the buffalo on Turtle Island, now known as North America, is a tragic tale of near annihilation. The senseless slaughter of an estimated 60 million buffalo, driven by greed and a callous disregard for life, brought these once-thriving herds to the brink of extinction. This wasn’t hunting for sustenance; it was a systematic decimation fueled by economic opportunism and a twisted sense of sport. Buffalo were reduced to mere commodities, their hides sold for profit while their carcasses were left to rot under the unforgiving sun. There was no reverence for the life taken, no acknowledgement of the buffalo’s vital role in the ecosystem and the culture of the Indigenous people who depended on them. We must honor the buffalo! We are buffalo people.
This devastation mirrored the treatment of the Native people themselves. Millions were exterminated through disease, warfare, and forced removal from their ancestral lands. The value of their lives was disregarded, their traditions dismissed, and their connection to the land severed. Like the buffalo, they were seen as obstacles to "progress," pushed aside to make way for settlers and their ambitions.
The survivors were confined to reservations, isolated pockets of land that bore little resemblance to their traditional territories. This unnatural way of life, coupled with the constant pressure to assimilate, inflicted deep wounds on their culture and spirit. The treatment of the Native people echoed the disregard shown to the buffalo, a painful reminder of the interconnectedness of their fates.
The story of the Yellowstone buffalo herd offers a poignant example of the challenges faced by these animals. As Scott Frazier recounted, by 1906, only 20 wild buffalo remained in what is now Yellowstone National Park. In an attempt to bolster the dwindling population, orphaned buffalo calves were fed milk from dairy cows brought in from commercial ranches. Tragically, these cows carried the brucellosis virus, which they transmitted to the calves. This seemingly well-intentioned act had unintended consequences, introducing disease into the fragile ecosystem.
This incident bears a striking resemblance to the deliberate spread of smallpox among Native populations, such as the Piquot nation, through the distribution of infected blankets. In both cases, actions taken with a perceived benefit resulted in devastating harm, highlighting the dangers of imposing external solutions without understanding the complex web of relationships within a community.
The forced assimilation of Native children further illustrates the parallels between the treatment of the buffalo and the Native people. Children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to boarding schools, where their hair was cut, their traditional clothing replaced with Western attire, and their native languages forbidden. They were forced to adopt new customs, new stories, and a new religion, all in an attempt to erase their cultural identity.
These actions were justified by the belief that outsiders "knew better," that their way of life was superior to the traditions of the Native people. This arrogance disregarded the fact that the Native people had maintained a healthy balance within their communities for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. Their decisions were based on a profound understanding of the interconnectedness of all things, a wisdom that was dismissed in favor of a narrow, self-serving worldview.
Similarly, "wildlife management experts," often acting in conjunction with political leaders and under pressure from landowners and the cattle industry near Yellowstone, have sought to "control" the wild buffalo herd. Buffalo calves have been separated from their mothers at a crucial stage in their development, before they have had the chance to learn the survival skills necessary for their first winter.
These young buffalo are removed from their families, deprived of the teachings of their elders, and marked with ear tags bearing foreign names. They are forced to eat commercial hay instead of the wild prairie grasses that are their natural food. They are subjected to scientific experiments and gradually lose their connection to their wild heritage. They forget that they are wild buffalo, a tragic loss of identity and freedom.
This forced alteration of the buffalo’s natural way of life mirrors the treatment of the Native people, who were herded into square houses within confined areas, forbidden to practice their ceremonies and culture, and forced to adopt a new way of life dictated by outsiders. Their languages were banned, their food supplies altered, and their stories and ceremonies outlawed. Just as the Native people have had their entire natural way of being altered by outside forces, so too have the buffalo.
Robert "Bear" Pierce, a Pikuni Blackfoot elder, eloquently captures the essence of this connection: "It is easy to feel connected in a good way when you are in the middle of ceremony and prayer with the buffalo right near you. The challenge comes when you walk away and go back to the lives you lead away from them. Each day we must remember to keep them close and in our prayers. We must hold on to what our ancestors taught us and do our best to walk a good path. We must never forget that the buffalo are our relations and they are sacred."
This sentiment underscores the importance of maintaining a constant awareness of the buffalo’s plight, even when physically separated from them. It calls for a commitment to honoring their sacredness in our daily lives and upholding the traditions of our ancestors.
Having the opportunity to learn from individuals like Scott Frazier is a profound privilege. Each encounter reveals new layers of understanding about the deep connection between the buffalo and the Native people. Just when it seems that the full significance of this relationship has been grasped, new aspects emerge, reaffirming the vastness of the knowledge yet to be acquired. We must honor the buffalo! We are buffalo people.
The fate of the buffalo reflects the state of being of the Native people. When we learn to treat the buffalo with the reverence they deserve, the Native people may also see new and better times in their lives. The buffalo and the Native people are inextricably linked, and we must never forget to care for one another.
Shelley Bluejay Pierce, a Lakota/Cree woman, offers a powerful vision for the future: "The way we as a human race might aid our future generations best is to teach them to honor the sacred. We must look at the horrors we have created and then seek Creator’s direction before moving forward. Look to the buffalo and see what our future holds. Our human treatment of our fellows, the wild ones, and our care given to Earth will determine our future. There is no part of creation more important than another. The big bear is as important as the tiny spider that makes her web. The buffalo are watching. Are you hearing the message?"
This message calls for a fundamental shift in our relationship with the natural world, a recognition that all living things are interconnected and that our actions have far-reaching consequences. It urges us to learn from the mistakes of the past and to seek guidance from the Creator in shaping a more just and sustainable future. The buffalo serve as a powerful symbol of this need for change, a reminder that our treatment of the natural world reflects our values and ultimately determines our fate. We must honor the buffalo! We are buffalo people.
The buffalo are more than just animals; they are relatives, teachers, and a source of spiritual guidance. Their survival is intertwined with the survival of the Native people, and their well-being is a reflection of our own. By honoring the buffalo, we honor ourselves and future generations. By listening to their message, we can learn to live in harmony with the Earth and create a world where all living things are respected and valued. We must act now to ensure that the buffalo continue to roam free, a symbol of resilience, strength, and the enduring spirit of the Native people. We must honor the buffalo! We are buffalo people.
The path forward requires a collective effort, a commitment from individuals, communities, and governments to protect the buffalo and their habitat. This includes supporting conservation efforts, advocating for responsible wildlife management practices, and promoting education about the cultural significance of the buffalo to the Native people. It also requires a willingness to challenge the systems and structures that have historically contributed to the exploitation and marginalization of both the buffalo and the Native people.
Ultimately, honoring the buffalo means embracing a worldview that values interconnectedness, respect, and reciprocity. It means recognizing that we are all part of a larger web of life and that our actions have consequences for all. It means listening to the wisdom of the elders and learning from the mistakes of the past. It means working together to create a future where the buffalo thrive, the Native people prosper, and the Earth is healed. We must honor the buffalo! We are buffalo people.