Lily Gladstone, the first Native American actress nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, is using her platform to amplify a critical story: the Blackfoot Nation’s fight to revitalize wild buffalo populations after a century of near-extinction. Gladstone executive-produced and narrates the documentary Bring Them Home, a film eight years in the making, which highlights not just ecological restoration but also the deep cultural and historical trauma inflicted on Indigenous communities through the near-eradication of the buffalo.
The documentary, directed by Daniel Glick, Ivan MacDonald, and Ivy MacDonald, isn’t simply about bringing back an animal; it’s about reclaiming a way of life. For the Blackfoot and other Plains tribes, the buffalo isn’t just a source of sustenance – it is woven into the fabric of identity, spirituality, and survival. Gladstone emphasizes that this revival is about more than just restoring an ecosystem; it’s about healing generational trauma.
The Weight of Historical Trauma
Gladstone stresses the concept of “historical trauma” – inherited suffering stemming from systemic oppression. This trauma, she explains, is not merely psychological; it impacts entire communities, and if left unaddressed, perpetuates cycles of harm. The documentary illustrates how deliberate government policies aimed to destroy Indigenous cultures by decimating the buffalo population, severing a vital connection between people and their environment.
“Historical trauma comes in a lot of different forms…this process of walking back centuries-old, concerted government efforts to eradicate who the American Indian people are.”
This isn’t just history; it’s an ongoing reality. Gladstone’s great, great, great-grandfather, Red Crow, witnessed the transition from buffalo to cattle ranching, a shift that stripped away traditional ways of life. The documentary exposes how colonization forced reliance on unsustainable practices, turning communities dependent on systems designed to exploit them.
Community as Resilience
The key to overcoming this trauma, Gladstone argues, lies in community. Division, historically used as a weapon against Indigenous peoples, can only be countered by unity. The Blackfoot experience demonstrates how collective action is vital for survival, both physically and spiritually.
“Community is survival. It’s physical survival, it’s spiritual survival, it’s individual.”
She recounts Red Crow’s warning: “We’re buffalo people, and we’re being made to be cattle people.” Cattle are dependent on external care; buffalo thrive through adaptation and collective strength. The revitalization effort isn’t just about restoring an animal; it’s about reclaiming a cultural identity rooted in resilience.
The Buffalo as a Teacher
Gladstone offers a simple but powerful lesson for anyone facing hardship: “Be like the buffalo.” These animals give birth in winter, survive subzero temperatures, and face storms head-on as a collective, refusing to succumb to defeat. This mindset embodies the spirit of perseverance that has allowed Indigenous communities to endure centuries of adversity.
The buffalo also teaches humans about interconnectedness. Gladstone points out that humans are “fairly pitiful” in comparison – short-lived, vulnerable, and entirely reliant on the environment. But this vulnerability also underscores the importance of balance and respect for all living things. The documentary challenges the Western hierarchical view of nature, advocating instead for an “interconnected circle” where every species plays a sacred role.
A Message to Future Generations
Gladstone’s message to young people is clear: you are needed, you are loved, and you are part of a larger story. She emphasizes that their role extends beyond mere survival; they are the inheritors of a legacy and the guarantors of its continuation.
She also highlights the irony of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a Western psychological model that places self-actualization at the peak. Gladstone notes that Indigenous communities traditionally prioritized basic needs and communal well-being, recognizing that individual fulfillment is inseparable from collective survival. The revitalization of the buffalo, she concludes, isn’t just about restoring an ecosystem; it’s about reclaiming a way of life that prioritizes balance, resilience, and interconnectedness.
Ultimately, Bring Them Home is a powerful reminder that healing historical trauma requires not just acknowledgment but active restoration – of the land, the culture, and the enduring spirit of the buffalo people.
