Now That the Buffalo’s Gone

"Now That the Buffalo's Gone" is a song by Buffy Sainte-Marie that addresses the displacement of Native Americans and the loss of their culture and land, particularly referencing the near extinction of the buffalo. The song uses the buffalo as a symbol for the broader impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples. It highlights the historical significance of the buffalo in Native American life and the profound cultural and ecological loss that occurred. The song serves as a powerful commentary on the consequences of westward expansion and the erasure of Indigenous heritage.12