A Herd of 40 Life-Size Bison Puppets Will Stampede Through New York This Weekend to Honor Indigenous History and Resilience

Forty towering life-size bison puppets will wend through New York City's streets this weekend, as part of a free art exhibition honoring the animal and the Indigenous communities who have long revered and cared for them. Titled "Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi," the two-day event celebrates the journey of the bison from near extinction in the late 19th century to a current population of around 500,000 across the United States.

The spectacle, whose name translates to "Trail of the Buffalo" in Lakota, will take two routes—one through Lower Manhattan and another through Brooklyn—complemented by poetry readings, live music, ceremonies, and dancing. The bison, designed by the South American puppet company Ukwanda Puppets and constructed in New York City, are operated by three volunteers each, with movements carefully rehearsed.

The event kicks off tonight in front of the National Museum of the American Indian with a performance by elders from the Lenape and Lakota tribes. Prominent celebrities like Sam Waterston, Rosario Dawson, and Susan Sarandon are also set to join the walks. As the herd traverses various historic sites, Indigenous leaders will share knowledge and stories with attendees.

The story of the Great Plains bison and Indigenous tribes is inextricable: In the mid-1800s, both were thriving across the American prairie, but violence from colonial settlers and hunters pushed both the animal and Indigenous people to the brink of extinction. By the 1890s, fewer than 1,000 bison remained. Today, the bison's return symbolizes the worst and best of human history, emphasizing the need for reflection, appreciation of nature, and healing.