Guerrilla History Overcoming the Legacy of White Settler Genocide By Bringing Back the Buffalo w/ Jeremy Kuzmarov
Jan 14, 2026
Jeremy Kuzmarov, Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine and author, dives into the inspiring revival of the Blackfeet buffalo, exploring its crucial cultural significance and the historical context of settler genocide. He connects the buffalo's extermination to a broader pattern of colonialism and U.S. imperialism while discussing the ecological role of buffalo as a keystone species. The conversation delves into the challenges and successes of revitalization efforts, highlighting grassroots initiatives that promote youth engagement and foster a symbiotic relationship with nature.
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Buffalo As Cultural Keystone
- The Blackfeet view the buffalo as family and central to cultural survival rather than just a food source.
- Jeremy Kuzmarov argues the buffalo's slaughter was deliberate ecocide tied to destroying Indigenous societies.
Film Screening Sparked The Article
- Jeremy attended a screening of Bring Them Home which inspired his article in CovertAction Magazine.
- He recounts finding historical photos of gleeful buffalo hunters and linking that to genocidal intent.
Buffalo Extermination As Genocidal Strategy
- Settlers exterminated buffalo to weaken Native communities and seize land for railways, farming, and mining.
- Jeremy links the mass slaughter to a deliberate campaign to force Indigenous removal onto reservations.
