PBS to air Lily Gladstone–narrated film on Blackfeet buffalo return after decades-long fight

A new documentary narrated and executive-produced by Lily Gladstone, Oscar-nominated star of "Killers of the Flower Moon," tackles the Blackfeet Nation's fight to restore buffalo to their land.The big picture: "Bring Them Home/Aiskótáhkapiyaaya," set to air on most PBS stations on Monday, comes amid similar battles between ranchers, conservationists and tribal elders over land use on Indigenous reservations. Gladstone made Golden Globes history last year by becoming the first person who identifies as Indigenous to win best performance by an actress in a dramatic film.In an interview with Axios, she said she joined the project after ensuring it would center Indigenous voices. "Anything I can do to help support Native artists who are leading and doing the work...it's a no-brainer," said Gladstone, who is of Piegan Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage.Zoom in: The film follows the Blackfeet Nation's decades-long effort to restore wild buffalo (iinnii) to ancestral lands in a story about reclaiming identity, spirituality and sovereignty through conservation.Directed by Blackfeet siblings Ivan and Ivy MacDonald with filmmaker Daniel Glick, it explores the conflicts on tribal land in the U.S. and Canada over when and where the buffalo should roam.Once exterminated by white settlers as a method to remove Indigenous people, the buffalo returned to Blackfeet land, now divided by ranches and few options to run wild as generations before.Gladstone described the project as deeply personal. "I don't really remember a time when I didn't have a deep awareness that buffalo are at the heart of who we are as Blackfeet." Lily Gladstone is seen outside "FOX Studio" on November 14, 2025, in New York City. Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images via Getty ImagesIn the film, two reserves in Canada and the Blackfeet Nation are shown throughout the years struggling with ways to bring back wild buffalo to the lands.Tribal officials have to battle internal politics, resistance from cattle ranchers and efforts to get youth involved in "buffalo awareness."Tribes often have to sell herds, only to purchase other herds later when sentiments change. Zoom out: The film links conservation to cultural survival. "At a time when everything feels like a commodity," Gladstone said, "this story reminds us that connection to land and animals isn't something you can buy — it's something you live."The intrigue: Gladstone traced her bond with buffalo to her family lineage, which includes Red Crow, a Kainai chief who witnessed the shift from buffalo to cattle economies in the 19th century."He said we were buffalo people becoming cattle people, and that's still true in many ways."She provides narration through the film but also played a role in its direction.Go deeper: Lily Gladstone dedicates Golden Globe to "rez kids"

Comments

World news

Four wounded after gunfire erupts at annual tree lighting ceremony

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Alabama Public Television considers cutting ties with PBS

PBS executive seen smiling in mugshot after being arrested on meth charges during traffic stop

World news

Four wounded after gunfire erupts at annual tree lighting ceremony

Black disabled veteran says Buffalo Wild Wings receipt contained vile racist slur

Investigators working to uncover cause of container ship fire that closed LA port and sparked chemical alert

JFK's granddaughter reveals terminal cancer diagnosis, criticizes cousin RFK, Jr.

Major European airport closed after drones spotted leaving dozens stranded

Andrew should give ‘relevant information’ to Epstein inquiry, Starmer says

Eindhoven Airport closed after drone sightings

What did COP30 achieve after failing to reach deal on fossil fuels?

Ex-Brazil president 'tried to open ankle monitor' with soldering iron in 'escape attempt'

PBS to air Lily Gladstone–narrated film on Blackfeet buffalo return after decades-long fight

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill 22 Palestinians, medical and civil defence officials say

UN climate talks fail to secure new fossil fuel promises

U.N. climate talks end without agreement on phasing out fossil fuels

Alberta nurses reach last-minute tentative deal to avoid strike

Locked out of Ottawa-Alberta pipeline talks, David Eby sneers from the sidelines

Controversial new legislation causing Quebec physicians to flee for Ontario

Canada Post and union strike deal in principle as holiday crush nears

Increasing aggression in classes, Alberta schools in crisis mode says report to province

10 Black Friday wellness steals too good to pass up

G7 security ministers gather in Ottawa

Vincent Marissal quits Québec Solidaire

Starmer and other Ukraine allies express ‘concern’ over US peace plan

Ex-LAPD cop and Israeli gangster raided teenage boy’s home to steal his $350k crypto wallet, prosecutors say

Trump teaming up with Jack Nicklaus to revamp 'president's golf course' at Joint Base Andrews

Thousands march in Marseille after killing of activist’s brother shocks France

Ukraine’s allies rally around Zelensky ahead of crunch talks as Trump offers lifeline to Kyiv

How Zohran Mamdani won over Donald Trump — for now

Starmer 'playing whack-a-mole' to keep US on side - but will it be enough?

American senators rip Trump’s Ukraine peace proposal at international security conference in Canada

Keir Starmer finally given voice in Donald Trump's controversial Ukraine 'peace plan'

Irish fashion designer Paul Costelloe dies aged 80

20 Killed in Israeli Strikes as Israel and Hamas Trade Blame Over Truce

Canadiens’ Florian Xhekaj set for debut vs. Leafs

Grandmother, 69, decapitated by bin lorry after recently beating cancer

Three schoolchildren injured in grizzly bear attack as ‘heroic’ teachers tried to fight it off

Speedboat captain jailed for drink-fueled crash that killed Harry Potter publishing executive

Kirill Dmitriev: The blacklisted Kremlin official behind Trump’s ‘pro-Russia’ peace plan for Ukraine

Trump boasts he has his ‘highest poll numbers’ ever – but some surveys show him sinking to a record second-term low

Insults, injuries and alleged vote rigging: How scandal-struck Miss Universe 2025 descended into chaos

I’m a soldier in Ukraine – Trump’s deal is an insult to everyone killed by Russia

Fractious UN climate talks end with no direct push on fossil fuels in deal

Israel launches strikes on Gaza in further test of fragile ceasefire

US issues warning to airlines flying over Venezuela amid 'heightened military activity'

Brit dad in coma after heart attack on holiday as family 'pray for miracle'

Man agreed to let lover chop off his penis and eat it then watch him die

Drones spotted near Dutch military base

Three arrested in India after police crack $800,000 bank heist

Carney says U.S. peace plan for Ukraine needs ‘more work’; expert calls it a ‘disaster’

Deadly floods in Albania after days of torrential rain hit region

Trump gloats over ‘traitor’ MTG’s decision to quit as MAGA left reeling

Dutch military opens fire at drones over air base

From ‘future star’ to ‘traitor’: How Trump’s MAGA warrior Marjorie Taylor Greene lost the president

Nearly 13 million-year-old fossil named after Shakira ‘because they’re huge fans’

Dad living off grid ‘shocked’ kids were taken away after he fed them poisonous mushrooms

Empty beds at school where 315 students and teachers were abducted by gunmen

U.S. to hold talks in Geneva with Ukraine and EU countries on Trump's peace plan

Top holiday scams shoppers should watch for ahead of Black Friday

Serbians mark anniversary of pro-government violence that spawned student strikes

Dutch military opens fire at drones over Volkel Air Base

Brazil’s former President arrested over escape plan days before starting 27-year prison sentence