The trailers cross the grass. They roll to a stop. From inside come strange sounds. Snorting. Banging. Knocking. The scraping of hooves. These are the sounds of giant beasts waiting to break free.    

    The trailer doors open. Out charge 61 buffalo, or American bison. They thunder onto the prairie.

    It is the winter of 2012, on American Indian land in Montana. Buffalo haven’t lived here since the late 1800s. Now these majestic animals are coming home.

    The silver trailers cross the grassy plain and roll to a stop in a line. From inside come strange noises: snorting, banging, knocking, and the scraping of hooves. These are the sounds of giant beasts waiting to break free.    

    One after another, the trailer doors open. Out charge 61 buffalo, or American bison. They thunder onto the prairie.

    It is the winter of 2012, on American Indian land in Montana. Buffalo haven’t lived here since the late 1800s. After 120 years, these majestic animals are finally coming home.

    More than 30 million buffalo once ruled North America. Most lived in the fields between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River. This area is now called the Great Plains.

    Buffalo were bigger than horses. Their horns were deadly weapons. Humans were one of the only predators that dared to hunt them.

    Many American Indian tribes lived on the Great Plains. Buffalo meat was an important source of food. The bones and skin were used to make clothing, shelter, and tools.

    For centuries, buffalo and humans lived side by side. Native peoples were thankful for these creatures. They hunted just enough buffalo to help them survive. Many tribes honored buffalo with special dances and ceremonies.

    More than 30 million buffalo once ruled North America. Most lived in the grassy fields between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River, an area that is now called the Great Plains.

    Few animals dared to try to kill buffalo. They were huge—bigger than horses and covered in shaggy fur. Their large, pointy horns were deadly weapons. Humans were among the only predators courageous enough to hunt them.

    Many different American Indian tribes lived on the Great Plains. Buffalo meat was a valuable source of food, and the animals’ bones and skin were used to make clothing, shelter, and tools.

    For centuries, buffalo and humans lived side by side. Native peoples were thankful for these important creatures, and they hunted only enough buffalo to help them survive. Many tribes even honored the animals with special dances and ceremonies.

    But in the 1500s, the Great Plains started to change. So did the way buffalo were hunted. White people arrived from Europe. They brought horses and guns to America. Soon, White hunters were shooting hundreds of buffalo a day. 

    By the late 1800s, railroads were being built across the U.S. Trains brought more White people west to the Great Plains. These people stole land from American Indian tribes. Deadly clashes broke out. 

    Before long, the U.S. Army was put in charge of forcing these tribes off their land. The Army’s leaders decided that the best way to do this was to destroy the buffalo. Why? They knew the American Indian peoples needed them to survive. 

    So the Army helped destroy as many buffalo as possible. Millions were killed. It was just one of the many horrors American Indian peoples faced on the Plains. They suffered starvation, violence, and disease. They were killed for their land. But many survived to pass on their traditions. This included their deep respect for the mighty buffalo.

    But in the 1500s, the Great Plains started to change. So did the way buffalo were hunted. White people came from Europe. They brought horses and guns to America. Soon, White hunters were shooting hundreds of buffalo a day.

    By the late 1800s, railroads were being built across the country. Trains brought more White people west to the Great Plains. These people stole land from American Indian tribes. Deadly clashes broke out.

    The U.S. Army was put in charge of forcing these tribes off their land. Army leaders set out to destroy the buffalo. Why? They knew the American Indian peoples needed them to survive.

    So the Army helped destroy the buffalo. Millions were killed. It was just one of many horrors American Indian peoples faced on the Plains. They suffered starvation, violence, and disease. They were killed for their land. But many survived to pass on their traditions. This included their deep respect for buffalo.

    But in the 1500s, the Great Plains started to change—and so did the way buffalo were hunted. White people arrived from Europe, bringing horses and guns to America. Soon, White hunters were shooting hundreds of buffalo a day.

    By the late 1800s, railroads were being built across the U.S. Trains brought more White people west to the Great Plains. These people stole land from American Indian tribes. Deadly clashes broke out.

    Before long, the U.S. Army was put in charge of forcing these tribes off their land. The Army’s leaders decided that the best way to do this was to destroy the buffalo, because the American Indian peoples needed the buffalo to survive.

    So the Army helped destroy as many buffalo as possible. Millions were killed. 

    It was just one of the many horrors American Indian peoples faced on the Plains. They suffered starvation, violence, and disease. They were killed for their land. But many survived to pass on their traditions, including their deep respect for the mighty buffalo.

    By the end of the 19th century, there were fewer than 100 wild buffalo on the Great Plains. They could be extinct today. But thanks to many American Indian peoples, they’re not.

    The Fort Peck Assiniboine [uh-SI-nuh-boyn] and Sioux [soo] Tribes live in Montana. For years, they wanted to bring some wild buffalo back to their lands. In 2007, they were ready.

    At the time, one of the largest herds was at Yellowstone National Park. This park is located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

    In the park, the buffalo were protected. The herd had grown to about 5,000. That was too many for the park’s ecosystem. Thousands of them had been killed to protect the land.

    The Fort Peck Tribes wanted to save some of these buffalo. But there was a problem. Ranchers in Montana put up a fight. Half of the Yellowstone buffalo carried a disease called brucellosis. The ranchers worried that their cattle could catch it and die.

    There was a legal battle. The Fort Peck Tribes won. They could bring buffalo onto their lands. 

    By the end of the 19th century, there were fewer than a hundred wild buffalo on the Great Plains. They could be extinct today—but thanks to the work of many American Indian peoples, they aren’t.

    The Fort Peck Assiniboine [uh-SI-nuh-boyn] and Sioux [soo] Tribes live in Montana. For years, they had wanted to bring a small herd of wild buffalo back to their lands. In 2007, they were finally ready.

    At the time, one of the largest herds was at Yellowstone National Park. This park is located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

    Inside the park, the buffalo were protected. The herd had grown to about 5,000, which was too many for the park’s ecosystem. Thousands of buffalo had been killed over the years to protect the land.

    The Fort Peck Tribes wanted to save some of these buffalo, but they ran into problems. Ranchers in Montana objected to the plan, because half of the Yellowstone buffalo carried a disease called brucellosis. The ranchers worried that their cattle could catch the disease and die.

    After a long legal battle, the Fort Peck Tribes finally won the right to bring some buffalo onto their lands. 

    When those silver trailers arrived in 2012, it was the result of nearly six years of hard work. Now, nearly 380 Yellowstone buffalo have returned to Fort Peck tribal lands. For the tribes, these buffalo bring joy, hope, and pride. 

    One of the leaders of the Fort Peck buffalo program is Jonny BearCub Stiffarm. 

    When she was a child, she only read about buffalo in books. “Now, as our children grow up, buffalo will always have been part of their lives,” she says. 

    The Fort Peck buffalo program saves as many as 100 Yellowstone buffalo every year. Some are added to the Fort Peck herd. Others are sent to 16 Native nations across the U.S.

    After years of work, those first trailers arrived in 2012. Now, nearly 380 Yellowstone buffalo have returned to Fort Peck tribal lands. For the tribes, they bring joy, hope, and pride.

    Jonny BearCub Stiffarm helps lead the Fort Peck buffalo program. As a child, she only read about buffalo in books. “Now, as our children grow up, buffalo will always have been part of their lives,” she says.

    The Fort Peck buffalo program saves as many as 100 Yellowstone buffalo a year. Some are added to the Fort Peck herd. Others are sent to 16 Native nations across the U.S.

    When those silver trailers arrived in 2012, it was the result of almost six years of hard work. Now, nearly 380 Yellowstone buffalo have returned to Fort Peck tribal lands. For the tribes, these buffalo bring joy, hope, and pride.

    One of the leaders of the Fort Peck buffalo program is Jonny BearCub Stiffarm. When she was a child, she only read about buffalo in books. “Now, as our children grow up, buffalo will always have been part of their lives,” she says.

    The Fort Peck buffalo program saves as many as 100 Yellowstone buffalo every year. Some are added to the Fort Peck herd. Others are sent to 16 Native nations across the U.S.