Rewilding The Great Plains

Author

Sarah E. Mosquera

Year of Award

2022

Document Type

Professional Paper

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism

Department or School/College

Journalism

Committee Chair

Keith Graham

Commitee Members

Jennifer Harrington, Ray Fanning

Abstract

This long-form journalistic story and photo essay is about Tribes in Eastern Montana and their efforts to restore native species to the Great Plains ecosystem. Across the Great Plains, Tribes are working to bring native species back to their ancestral territories. The swift fox, black-footed ferret and buffalo were all pushed to the brink of extinction as colonizers took over. Now, Tribes on Fort Peck, Northern Cheyenne and Fort Belknap are partnering with conservation organizations to help repair the prairie ecosystem. Driven by cultural knowledge and a sense of responsibility, many Tribes are learning from past mistakes and nearby successes. Great Plains Indians are working to keep an important connection to their past while simultaneously protecting the land for future generations.

The Great Plains are a part of the most endangered biome in the world. Centuries of agricultural expansion has created an inhospitable environment with little biodiversity. Wildlife is a fundamental aspect of any ecosystem, and buffalo and prairie dogs are the keystone species on the prairie. Without them the habitat cannot exist as it is. Swift fox and black-footed ferrets are not considered keystone species, but they are important indicators of grassland health. All these animals are important components of the Great Plains ecosystem. And these species cannot live in another habitat.

The goal of these reintroductions is to protect an important ecosystem and save multiple species from extinction. For Tribal members there is the added importance of preserving ancestral knowledge and maintaining a connection to their culture. Each Tribe has a different cultural connection to the land and its inhabitants, but the respect is common across the Tribes.

Recommended Citation

Mosquera, Sarah E., "Rewilding The Great Plains" (2022). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11986.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11986