The Great American Buffalo Experience

I stood eight to ten feet from the massive beast. It was his eyes that drew me towards him. He was incredible, every bit of 1,500 pounds – maybe more.

We had peered at each other from our proper domains. He was on the side of the road in Yellowstone, grazing his field. I was in a car, driving through, experiencing a herd of bison for the first time.

It could be argued we fell in love, at the very least were enamored. One thing I know for sure, I was fully entranced. His eyes had locked with mine and neither of us could look away.

Slowly I got out of the car, fully anticipating a reaction if I got too close. I couldn’t believe he didn’t huff or in any way seem disturbed. Nor, did he turn and walk away. The great buffalo seemed as curious about me as I was about him.

At the very least he was owning his space. But it was more than that. There was a story in his eyes. Millinia of wisdom and knowing, that resided in his DNA. And I wanted to know it all. I continued to walk closer, ever so slowly.

“Would you please get back in the car. You are scaring the hell out of me!” My boyfriend begged from behind me. He was from Idaho and knew far better than I the ferocity and strength of the great buffalo. It was the genuine distress and fear in his voice that pulled me away. I’m not sure anything else would have.

Since then, I’ve learned more about the importance of the buffalo to the Native American Indian community. Specifically, the spiritual significance of nature in our lives and that we are all of one tribe, whether animal or human. Ultimately, we need each other.

Our indigenous people have long understood this. Yet culturally we seem to have fallen away from this ultimate truth. What we have slowly destroyed; lakes, rivers, and even the air – the American Indian community has tried to sustain.

As we move closer to environmentalism, we are realizing more fully the wisdom and righteousness of the Native American Indian. They understood what we in our gluttony and greed could not.

The spiritual symbolism of the great buffalo includes abundance, fertility and the enduring connection between humanity and the natural world. For the Native American people this sacred mammal provided for them and protected them from the harshness of cold winters and everyday hunger. Even when the buffalo population were almost decimated, their significance still lived within the American Indian people.

The spiritual connection between the buffalo, the tribes and the earth still exist today. As the Sioux tribe protested the Dakota pipeline in 2021, a herd appeared on the ridge behind the government agents sent to keep the protesters at bay. When a herd of buffalo moves, the earth shakes beneath them. They are that powerful. You can feel it, as well as hear their thunder.

It seemed the great buffalo had joined with the tribesmen in unity to protect their native lands. It was as if it was their duty. The sanctity of their relationship had survived after all.

The Sioux tribe members were encouraged and began to call the buffalo in their native tongue. The tribesmen’s endurance was renewed, and they fought longer and harder as a result of the buffalo herd's presence. In the end, the protesters won and stopped the pipeline from coming through their sacred tribal lands.

As I watched the happening on video my heart began to race, and tears stung my eyes. It was one of the holiest actions I'd ever seen. What I would've given to have been there – to have felt the earth rumble and heard those hooves pounding the earth as that majestic herd joined in the battle.

If you ever have the opportunity to look into the eyes of a bison, I highly recommend it. You will immediately feel connected to nature and have a deeper understanding of the importance our place is in this world.

On the other hand, if you’re too busy to travel, just check out any of the numerous programs on PBS covering the great sacred mammal. You won’t be disappointed. In fact, you may be inspired. Maintaining their place on our lands has never seemed more important.

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