The American Buffalo, a new two-part four-hour series by Ken Burns, takes viewers on a journey through more than 10,000 years of North American history and across some of the continent’s most iconic landscapes, tracing the animal’s evolution, significance to the great plains, near demise, and relationship to the Indigenous people of North America. The American Buffalo premieres on WLIW21 on October 25th.

We want to use the occasion of Ken Burns’ film to turn to the Shinnecock Nation here on Long Island, to engage in a conversation around this Indigenous community’s culture, knowledge, and traditions concerning conservation and the natural world, environmental health, and the community. This rich history, built on centuries of Indigenous knowledge, reveals timeless lessons and important guideposts as we consider today’s challenges and opportunities. Frank Sesno welcomes Shavonne Smith, Environmental Director for the Shinnecock Nation, and Jeremy Dennis, photographer and founder of Ma’s House, to discuss these pressing topics.

Major funding for The American Buffalo and this program was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members; The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund at The St Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment; John and Catherine Debs; Kissick Family Foundation; Fred and Donne Seigel; Jacqueline Mars; John and Leslie McQuown; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tudor Jones. Funding was also provided by the Volgenau Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by contributions from your PBS station from listeners like you.