The American Prairie

13,000 BCE - present

The American prairie is part of a larger ecosystem which extends through portions of Mexico, the contiguous United States, and central Canada. Weather patterns are constantly shifting as different air mass types pass east to west and north to south. From the east, the soil shifts from a marsh-like state to the semi-arid environment that many associate with the western Great Plains. Prairies comprise most of the interior plains, including short grass, mixed grass, and tall grass prairies, which vary exceptionally in rainfall patterns and elevation. An abundance of wildlife and plant species have long inhabited the prairie, including the American bison, white tailed deer, pronghorn, and many birds and invertebrates. Presently, the American prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, with only a fraction of land resembling its original stature. Extensive farms and livestock ranches now cover swaths of the once open plains. As a result, the soil is weak and many of the rich carbon deposits that sat beneath the surface are lost. Residential development has also increased, producing high levels of noise pollution which disrupt wildlife cycles of mating and migration.

The territory of the American Prairie falls within the ancestral homelands of the Aaniiih (Gros Ventre), the Niitsitapi / Pikuni (Blackfeet), the Nakoda / Nakona (Assiniboine), the Lakota / Dakota (Sioux), Apsáalooke (Crow), Ojibwe / Annishinabe / Ne-i-yah-wahk (Chippewa Cree), and Métis (Little Shell Chippewa).

Territorial recognition: https://www.americanprairie.org/tribal-communities#:~:text=American%20Prairie%20acknowledges%20that%20the,Aps%C3%A1alooke%20(Crow)%2C%20Ojibwe%20%2F

Most Pressing Issues

Land use and agriculture

The landscape of the American prairie has been changed completely since the industrialization of agriculture throughout the 19th century. The soil, while resilient to irregular rainfall, was historically enriched by a balance of deeply rooted native vegetation and fertilizer from migrating wildlife. Plains Native Americans grew variations of corn, beans and squash for generations. The invention of the steel plow in 1837 aided white farmers in digging up the entrenched grasses and shrubs to make room for large, productive vegetable fields. Removing these roots, however, obstructed the system which held onto moisture and stabilized the soil. Over time, drought turned the farms to dust and created dangerous storms of flying debris. Along with the soil went stored carbon into the atmosphere.

Habitat loss

Residential and agricultural expansion have replaced the land which once served as habitat to the diverse wildlife population of the prairie. Inventing both the steel plow and barbed wire allowed humans to systematically account for all corners of the undulating grasslands. Rolling hills were separated into square parcels, deeply rooted native grasses were ripped from the ground, and migratory paths were blockaded with thorned fencing. As cities emerged and transportation methods advanced, noise pollution has further disrupted the navigation paths, mating rituals, and communication methods for wildlife living in the prairies.

Biodiversity loss

The American Prairie was once home to an extensive, symbiotic network of native flora and fauna. The landscape nurtured and provided for the inhabitant species, and vice versa as the herds migrated across the vast region. Settler journals raved unbelievable clay deposits, countless bison raising their calves, and endless fields of grass. These visions begin to dissolve in the mid-19th century as native americans are confined to reserves and bison populations are decimated along with many other native wildlife populations. Overhunting, habitat loss, and agricultural expansion caused severe loss in elk, grassland bird species, and prairie dog & chicken populations.

Bison

Although now designated as the official mammal of the United States, present day herds of American Bison are a fragment of the native populations which once roamed the prairie. When the Lakota people emerged from Wind Cave, they were instructed to follow the bison for everything they needed to survive. For generations, the animal was celebrated and praised by prairie tribes. White settlers would later describe seemingly endless populations of bison in their journals. Hunting the animal became a careless and ruthless act. During the 19th century, the species nearly went extinct, with only 85 wild animals remaining in the United States. Efforts have since been put forth to protect and raise the remaining population, but most bison are now raised in captivity or as livestock. The Intertribal Bison Cooperative currently works to bring herds to Native American reservations throughout the plains, in an effort to heal communities as well as the grasslands.

How You Can Help

American Prairie Reserve

American Prairie Reserve is working to create the largest nature reserve in the contiguous United States. The Montana-based nonprofit has been purchasing private land throughout the midwest since 2004, beginning with the Montana Glaciated Plains. The Reserve aims to provide habitat for plains wildlife species and preserve Native American and homestead-era historical sites.

Intertribal Buffalo Council

Composed of 69 federally recognized tribes, The Intertribal Buffalo Council spans 19 different states working to restore the American bison population and return herds to Indian Country. By reestablishing bison populations, the council aims to heal and preserve the historical and cultural relationship between Native Americans and the bison.

Sources:

Tyler J. Lark, "Protecting our prairies: Research and policy actions for conserving America's grasslands," Land Use Policy 97, (September 2020), 1.