Lily Gladstone Describes How Emulating a Buffalo Revitalized Blackfoot Territory

The return of the American bison to Montana marks not only an ecological victory but also the revival of cultural identity for Native communities in the northwest. Once numbering in the millions across North Americas plains, wild buffalo were nearly wiped out during 19th-century westward expansion. Over a century later, the effort to repair the damage is documented in the new film Bring Them Home or Aiskthkapiyaaya, produced and narrated by Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone of the Blackfeet and Nez Perce tribes.

The documentary, which premiered on PBS on November 24, explores the Blackfoot tribes struggle to bring back the buffalo herds, reclaim their traditions, and reinforce their sovereignty. Gladstone explained that buffalo, or iinnii in Blackfoot, are central to the tribes identity, symbolizing survival, resilience, and the ability to endure hardship. Iinnii are really at the center of everything for us, she said. We are Buffalo people, and one lesson we learn during difficult times is to be like buffalo.

Historically, the Blackfoot and other Great Plains tribes utilized every part of the buffalo, sustaining their communities with food, tools, and shelter. Elder G.G. Kipp reflects, The means to sustain a rich and healthy life was with us. The tribe viewed their connection with the buffalo not as domination but as a relationship of respect within the larger ecosystem.

Colonization disrupted this balance. As settlers advanced westward, they decimated buffalo populations deliberately to weaken Indigenous peoples. By the late 19th century, the number of bison had fallen from roughly 30 million to fewer than a thousand, devastating the Blackfoots territory and culture. Subsequent policies forced Native children into boarding schools, outlawed ceremonies and language, and fractured communities.

Despite these challenges, the Blackfoots bond with the buffalo persisted. Initial efforts to reintroduce bison in 1979 faced resistance from farmers and ranchers, and a fledgling herd was even sold off by the tribal council in 2006. Nevertheless, grassroots movements, including the Iinnii Initiative founded in 2009, worked alongside conservationists to restore herds while emphasizing ecological importance. Bison are keystone species, creating habitats, pathways, and sustenance for many other animals and plants.

Finding a permanent home for the returning herd required careful planning. After years of deliberation, Chief Mountain, a spiritually significant area along the border of Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Reservation, was chosen. In 2023, dozens of bulls, cows, and calves finally returned, reconnecting the tribe with a species that had been absent for generations. Tribal council member Tyson Running Wolf described it as a moment for the communitys spirit to catch up with our humanness.

For Gladstone, the return of the buffalo mirrors the tribes own resilience. It takes a community of the strongest to break through challenges and protect their young, she said. As long as they continue moving and thriving, so do we.

The documentary Bring Them Home is now airing on PBS.

Author: Caleb Jennings