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Director Ken Burns recruited Native filmmakers, producers, and actors to help tell the story of the iconic Plains animal, the buffalo. The new PBS documentary The American Buffalo chronicles the history of the buffalo – from its sacred connection to tribes to its almost complete demise – and the contemporary work by tribes to restore herds descended from the survivors of the federal government’s efforts to eradicate them. We’ll hear from the show’s creators and tribal experts dedicated to reviving the important and once plentiful species.
GUESTS
Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker and director of The American Buffalo
Julianna Brannum (citizen of the Comanche Nation), consulting producer on The American Buffalo, director of public media programs for Vision Maker Media, and documentary filmmaker
Dr. Rosalyn LaPier (enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana and Métis), professor of history at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Break 1 Music: Buffalo (song) Algin Scabby Robe (artist) Along the Way: Round Dance Songs (album)
Break 2 Music: Dm Yootu Stukwliin (song) Saltwater Hank (artist) G̱al’üünx Wil Lu Holtga Liimi (album)
There are no Buffalo in America. I’m glad Shawn brought up the question near the end of the show but Rosalyn’s answer was ‘bs’ as in ‘Buffalo s–‘. Buffalo and bison are two distinct animals and not closely related. Hard to consider a documentary credible when the main premise is completely wrong.