Bring Them Home

Bring Them Home/Aiskótáhkapiyaaya tells the evocative story of a decades-long effort by a determined group of Blackfoot people to re-establish wild buffalo on traditional lands—100 years after near extinction. Returning the buffalo provides reconnection to a core part of Blackfoot heritage, spirituality, and identity, and offers healing for the community.

Dr. Leroy Little Bear reflects on the Blackfoot worldview, where everything—people, animals, and nature—is alive with energy and spirit. He explains that the buffalo are not mere resources for survival, but relatives in a vast network of relationships. This deep sense of kinship defines the phrase “all my relations,” connecting all living beings through shared spirit and respect.

After years of conflict over the management of the buffalo, the Blackfeet tribe turned to an elder -- a cowboy named Mouse to corral the herd and teach them new habits. Despite his dedication, growing tension between the tribal council and local ranchers led to a painful decision: to round up and sell most of the herd, marking another chapter in the tribe’s ongoing struggle to reclaim balance.

Each fall, members of the Blackfeet Nation gather for the annual buffalo drive, a living tradition that honors the sacred bond between people, land, and animal. Through prayer, teamwork, and reverence, riders of all ages guide the herd across open plains, keeping alive a tradition that embodies community, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the Blackfeet people.