The Role of Buffalo in Native American Cultural Revitalization with Jason Baldes

What's Your Why?

"The buffalo is still central to our lifeways, our spirituality, our ceremonies, but has been missing for over 130 years. Bringing them back is integral to our healing from atrocities and the restoration of our cultural value." - Jason Baldes

Jason Baldes, an Eastern Shoshone and member of the Inter Tribal Buffalo Council, joins us on this episode of What's Your Why? to discuss his work in restoring buffalo to tribal lands. With a background in biology and a deep respect for the natural world, Jason has dedicated himself to bringing buffalo back to the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. Through his academic studies and collaborations with organizations like the National Wildlife Federation, Jason has been instrumental in reintroducing buffalo to the reservation, starting with a small herd in 2016. His efforts aim to revive the cultural and spiritual significance of buffalo for Native American communities, fostering healing and revitalization. Join us as we explore the sacred connection between Native people and buffalo, and learn about the ongoing challenges and successes of buffalo restoration. Get ready for an informative conversation with our guest, Jason Baldes.

Experience the profound connection between Native people and the buffalo in this inspiring new film by Ken Burns. Watch The American Buffalo: A Story of Resilience now to discover the untold story of the sacred bond between Native people and the buffalo.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:01 - Introduction 00:01:37 - Personal Passion for Bison Restoration 00:05:43 - Challenges with Government and Self-Determination 00:07:41 - Government's Trust Responsibility 00:09:30 - Growing Up in a Tribal Community 00:17:24 - The Sacredness of Buffalo 00:18:28 - Passing on Healing Through Buffalo 00:20:02 - Restoring Buffalo and Healing the Land 00:21:37 - Restoring Connection with Animals 00:23:07 - Influential Figures and the Indigenous Drum

• Watch the film The American Buffalo: A Story of Resilience by renowned filmmaker Ken Burns to learn about the journey of restoring buffalo to tribal lands.

• Stay informed about the progress of buffalo restoration on the Wind River Indian reservation in central Wyoming by following the work of Jason Baldes and the Intertribal Buffalo Council.

• Educate yourself about the history and importance of bison to indigenous tribes by reading books or articles on the subject.

• Visit the Wind River Indian reservation in central Wyoming to learn more about the cultural significance of buffalo to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes.

• Engage in meaningful consultation with tribal leaders and organizations to develop relationships and understand the needs and goals of indigenous communities.

• Celebrate Native American Heritage Month!

More ways to connect:

• https://www.facebook.com/storiesaboutwhy

• www.ThinkWY.org

• https://www.linkedin.com/emydigrappa

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