Episode 2: "The Red Man Was Pressed"

Episode Length: 28:59


Focus

This episode explores the history of bison in North America and the relationship between bison and Native Americans—it discusses how European settlement led to the near extermination of both bison and of Native peoples


Keywords

American history, European colonization and settlement, Native Americans, bison slaughter, grasslands, manifest destiny

 
 

Episode Outline

These outlines are intended to help you locate ideas and topics more easily, but these are narrative episodes with many interlocking themes and ideas, so you may want to share segments that cross multiple points in the outline.

 

MINUTES: 00:00 - 4:40

Bison lived everywhere in North America at one time, not just in the West.


04:41 - 07:40

Salish relationship with bison over thousands of years.


07:41 - 14:40

Attempt to exterminate bison with European colonization and settlement.

BREAK

15:20 - 18:15

Origin of the song “Home on the Range” and its nostalgia for a time that wasn’t past at all but still happening.


18:16 -22:59

Manifest destiny and the Idea of “vanishing” people and animals in the late 19th century.


23:00 - 28:59

Both bison and native people survived despite extermination efforts:

  • Movement of animals and people supported the grassland ecosystem

 
 

Video Excerpt

The historic range of American bison before European colonization of North America, explored with help from Keith Aune, at the time of this recording the director of the bison program at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

 
Season 1Amy MartinAmerican history, European colonization and settlement, Native Americans, bison slaughter, grasslands, manifest destiny