In one of the great tragedies of the late 1800’s, early settlers drove herds of buffalo over cliffs by the hundreds and sometimes by the thousands. In all, countless buffalo were killed and, in some cases, completely eradicated. And although it was portrayed to outside the world as a necessary act to ensure survival, sacred Native American writings and contemporary historical archives reveal that buffalo jumping was a tactic used by settlers to systematically remove native Americans from their land–for without the buffalo, they had no means to exist in such a harsh and brutal environment.
Situated in various locations throughout the great plains, buffalo jumps stand witness to a ruthless and contentious time. It is recorded that the ground at the base of a jump is eternally cursed by the spilled blood of the buffalo.
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