Bison, Sovereignty, and the Fight to Heal Land and Culture in the Heart of Wyoming
Out in the wide, breathtaking landscapes of Wyoming, where snow-capped mountains cast long shadows over windswept plains, a quiet revolution is underway. The team behind Native: The Prodigies of an Icon recently traveled to the Wind River Reservation—and what they found was more than just a story about bison. It’s a story of reclamation, regeneration, and rebirth.
The Wind River Reservation, home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, is not just bringing buffalo back to the land—it’s bringing balance back to a people, a culture, and a sacred ecosystem.
Reclaiming the Land, Rebuilding the Future
The crew filmed on ground that, until recently, was not tribal land—it had been sold off during the Homestead Act era. But today, thanks to tireless effort, 300 acres have been reacquired for Native ownership, part of a growing effort to reclaim the land and its purpose.
“They just reincorporated about 300 acres on the land,” says the producer behind the camera. “It’s beautiful country out here… maybe the prettiest we’ve been to yet.”
It’s not just a backdrop—it’s sacred ground being restored.
The Buffalo Come Home
Leading the charge is Jason Baldes, a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and Tribal Buffalo Program Manager for the National Wildlife Federation. Standing beside the Big Wind River, he shares how his life’s mission was sparked after witnessing the wildebeest migration in East Africa.
“To realize that one and a half million wildebeest is less than five percent of the bison population from 200 years ago—that changed me,” he says.
Baldes returned home with a vision: to bring back the bison. Not just as an animal, but as a symbol of life, sovereignty, and healing.
Bison: Keystone of the Prairie, Catalyst of Change
The bison are more than just majestic creatures. As the documentary reveals, they are ecological engineers.
Their wallowing creates microdepressions that collect water, foster seed dispersal, and encourage the growth of culturally significant plants—used for food, medicine, and tools by Native communities. Birds use bison hair to insulate their eggs, and several species of concern, including the burrowing owl and ferruginous hawk, are beginning to return with the buffalo.
“By bringing buffalo back,” Baldes says, “we also bring back butterflies, birds, reptiles, plants, and the balance that once defined this landscape.”
Healing the Land—and the People
The return of buffalo is about more than biodiversity. It’s about food sovereignty, health, and cultural identity.
“Getting buffalo back on the dinner plates of our people is also about health and healing,” Baldes explains. “As we heal the land by restoring buffalo, we also heal our communities.”
This is land management not just as a science—but as an act of spiritual and cultural renewal. It’s about ensuring future generations inherit a land that reflects their identity and honors their traditions.
Witness the Journey on Yanasa TV
The Wind River Reservation segment is just one chapter in the making of Native: The Prodigies of an Icon—and you can watch the story unfold, step by step, on the Yanasa TV YouTube Channel.
Each week, the producers release new behind-the-scenes videos, offering an inside look at the people, places, and passions driving one of the most powerful conservation stories in America.
This isn’t just about buffalo. It’s about sovereignty. It’s about survival. It’s about soul.
Watch the journey. Learn the truth. Join the movement.
Subscribe to Yanasa TV and follow the making of Native: The Prodigies of an Icon.
Production Partners
- Meet My Neighbor Productions, Inc.
- Yanasa Ama Ventures, LLC
Grant Partner
- National Buffalo Foundation
Platinum Sponsors
- Great Range Premium Bison
- Durham Ranch / Sierra Meat & Seafood Company
- Tender Bison
- National Buffalo Museum
- Rangeland Premium Bison
- Noble Premium Bison
- Mosquito Park Enterprises LLC
Gold Sponsors
- The Buffalo Wool Company
- Texas Bison Association
- Dakota Territory Buffalo Association
- Heim Land & Bison
- Dakota Pure Bison
- Tesoro Ranch
- 777 Bison Ranch
Additional Sponsors & Partners
- Herd Wear
- National Bison Association
Show Your Support. Wear the Legacy.
Shop Native Film Gear at Yanasa Trading Co
The story of Native: The Prodigies of an Icon is more than a documentary—it’s a movement to restore America’s most iconic species and reconnect people to the land, their food, and their heritage. Now, you can be part of that story.
From leather patch hats worn on the filming trail to limited-edition apparel inspired by the wild heart of the American prairie, Native Film Gear is designed for those who believe in conservation, culture, and courage.
Every purchase directly supports:
- The ongoing production of Native: The Prodigies of an Icon
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- Efforts to protect and preserve North America’s endangered grasslands
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Native isn’t just a film. It’s a legacy. Let it live through you.
