For the Indigenous nations of the Great Plains, the buffalo was far more than a source of food. Known by many tribes as Tatanka, it represented life itself. Every successful hunt provided meat to feed families, hides for clothing and shelter, bones for tools, sinew for sewing, and horns for utensils. Nearly every part of the animal served a purpose, allowing entire communities to thrive on the open prairie with remarkably little waste. The buffalo was woven into daily life, spiritual beliefs, and cultural traditions that had developed over countless generations.

One exhibit that especially caught our attention illustrates just how abundant these animals once were. Before European settlement transformed the Plains, an estimated 30 to 60 million buffalo roamed North America. Their immense herds shaped the grasslands as they migrated, creating an ecosystem that supported countless other species. For Indigenous peoples, following these migrations meant following life itself.

That relationship began to unravel during the second half of the nineteenth century. As railroads expanded westward and commercial hide hunting became increasingly profitable, buffalo were killed by the millions. While hunters earned money from hides and bones, many military and government leaders recognized another advantage. Eliminating the buffalo meant eliminating the primary food source for many Plains tribes, making it far more difficult for them to resist relocation onto reservations.

Standing before the museum’s displays, it is impossible not to reflect on the scale of that loss. The near extinction of the buffalo was not simply an environmental disaster. It was also a devastating cultural tragedy that forever altered the lives of the Indigenous peoples who had depended on Tatanka for centuries. Fortunately, conservation efforts have helped restore small herds across North America, allowing this iconic symbol of the Great Plains to roam portions of its historic range once again.