The United States' official mammal, the buffalo, well-known across America, has been key to the country's legendary accounts. Survivors of mass extinction, these shaggy beasts coexisted with Native people for thousands of years and integrated into daily life.
However, newcomers viewed them as obstacles to expansion, leading to a decade of mass slaughter for hides. Facing extinction, a diverse group of Americans intervened, marking the dawn of the conservation era-a complex narrative of America's conquest and simultaneous conservation efforts.
Dayton Duncan, accomplished author and "Country Music" series producer, joins forces with renowned filmmaker Ken Burns, founder of Florentine Films. Their three-decade collaboration has yielded influential documentaries like "The Civil War," earning Burns Emmy and Peabody Awards. They have left an indelible mark on American television history with an impactful body of work, shaping narratives that explore the nation's cultural and historical tapestry.
"Blood Memory" delves into the profound significance of bison to Great Plains Native peoples, tracing their evolving relationship after Lewis and Clark's expedition. The narrative unfolds the tragic clash between settlers armed with manifest destiny and repeating rifles and native communities, detailing duplicitous treaties and relentless encroachments. The buffalo's decimation is intertwined with the persecution of indigenous people, portraying torture, murder, and starvation.
The authors, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan confront the horror and hypocrisy of this national tragedy, revealing a once-multitudinous species reduced to near extinction. Despite the devastation, a few conservationists and entrepreneurs seeking profit kept remnants of buffalo herds alive. Over time, some herds grew, and paradoxically, the symbol of American greatness emerged from a species hunted to the brink - the buffalo, along with the Bald Eagle, both nearly eradicated, now embodying the nation's fragile commitment to conservation. The narrative reflects on the brutal consequences of expansion and the eventual if symbolic, acknowledgment of responsibility through the survival and iconic status of the buffalo.
An article in Kirkus Reviews discusses a forthcoming Burns documentary series on the fate of the American bison and introduces the related book, "Blood Memory." American bison, survivors of an earlier extinction, thrived in the North American plains before Euro-American arrivals aimed to destroy them.
The book explores historical figures like Daniel Boone and events contributing to the bison's near-extermination. Duncan links the bison's fate to that of Native American peoples and highlights current efforts, like the National Bison Range managed by Native Americans. While acknowledging the book's utility, the review suggests other titles provide a more vivid portrayal of the bison's history and recovery.
The book "Blood Memory" by Duncan and Burns receives praise for its elegiac complement to the PBS series "The American Buffalo." Publishers Weekly commends it for bringing readers to tears and then filling them with hope. The volume is described as panoramic, rich in images, insights, and extended interviews, covering the rise of bison, their role in Native American culture, their destruction by Euro-Americans, and their modest recovery.
BookPage highlights the use of firsthand accounts, interviews, and visual images. Booklist praises Duncan's lucid writing, detailing the buffalo's complex role in Native American lives, the arrival of whites, and the catastrophic slaughter. The story is recognized as a tribute to the buffalo, narrating from the Lewis & Clark Expedition to the near-extinction and subsequent recovery. Outside Bozeman calls it a compelling story of conquest, bloodshed, environmental disaster, resilience, and resistance.
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