Return of the Beast

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You’re about to read “Return of the Beast.”

Here are a few things you need to know before you read. The words in bold are important words, places, or people to know.

What is this story about?

Where did buffalo live back then?

Buffalo lived mostly in the area between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River.
This area is flat and mostly covered with grass.
Today, this area is called the Great Plains.

Who lived in North America at that time?

Native Americans—also known as American Indians—were the first people to live in America.
Scientists believe that Native Americans came here from Asia more than 10,000 years ago.

How did Native Americans live?

Native Americans lived in groups called tribes.
Each tribe had its own traditions, language, and religion.
Different tribes also had their own ways of gathering food, hunting, and building homes.

What should you know about the Native American tribes of the Great Plains?

Some tribes were nomadic. That means they traveled around rather than staying in one spot.
Other tribes were sedentary. That means they built villages where they lived and grew food.
Buffalo were important to all these tribes.

Why were buffalo important to Native Americans?

Native Americans hunted just enough buffalo to help them survive.
They ate the buffalo’s meat. The bones and skin were used to make clothing, shelter, and tools.
Many tribes honored the buffalo with special dances and ceremonies. They were thankful to these animals for everything they gave them.

In the 1500s, life changed for Native Americans.

White people arrived in America from Europe. Many of them wanted to steal the Native Americans’ land and claim it as their own.
Over the next few hundred years, White people and Native Americans fought over land and food.
Europeans also brought deadly diseases that killed many Native American people.

What happened to Native Americans during this time period?

What happened to the buffalo?

By the late 1800s, buffalo almost went extinct, or died out completely. But they didn’t.
Who saved them? Read the story to find out.