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Gladstone Fights for PBS & Buffalo
24 Nov
Summary
- Gladstone champions PBS and buffalo conservation.
- Film highlights historical buffalo eradication.
- Blackfeet Nation works to revive bison populations.
Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone lends her voice to the conservation documentary "Bring Them Home," which premieres during Native American Heritage Month. The film chronicles the U.S. government's intentional eradication of wild buffalo, reducing their numbers from millions to under a thousand. It also celebrates the modern Blackfeet Nation's ongoing efforts to restore bison to Montana and Alberta, alongside a developing narrative companion piece.
Gladstone draws a parallel between the fight for public broadcasting, like PBS, and the conservation of buffalo, both facing "concerted efforts of eradication." Growing up on her reservation, PBS was a vital educational resource, making its role as the documentary's home particularly meaningful. She views PBS as a shared resource, essential for disseminating stories of conservation and history.
The documentary, also known as "Aiskótáhkapiyaaya," explores how the buffalo's demise was intrinsically linked to attempts to displace Native American populations. Gladstone highlights the significance of seeing the bison return and recognizing the continued presence of Indigenous peoples, emphasizing that the buffalo serve as a reminder of ancestral continuity.
