Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Life-Size Bison Puppets to March Through NYC Honoring Indigenous History

Forty life-size bison puppets will parade through Manhattan and Brooklyn this weekend in a free art event called “Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi.” The spectacle aims to honor the animal and Indigenous communities.

The exhibition celebrates the bison's recovery from near extinction and its historical significance, featuring poetry, music, and dancing.

Creator Amir Nizar Zuabi stated the production memorializes America's history, urging a new chapter of empathy and respect.

The event begins with a performance by Lenape and Lakota elders. Celebrities and tribal members will join the procession.

Each bison puppet is operated by three puppeteers. Commands will be issued in Xhosa and Arabic.

The puppets were designed by Ukwanda Puppets and built in New York. Indigenous leaders were integral to the creation.

The bison's story is intertwined with Indigenous peoples, who faced near extinction alongside the animals due to colonial violence.

Bison numbers plummeted from millions to under 1,000 by the 1890s, but have since recovered to around 500,000.

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