FOLLOWING THE HERDS

During the 1860s and early 1870s, four great herds of buffalo roamed the Great Plains. Called the Northern, Republican, Arkansas and Texas herds, the great shaggy beasts numbered in the millions until the white buffalo hunters annihilated the herds, destroying the Plain Indians' livelihood.

The Crow Indians depicted here lived a nomadic life, following the seasons and the life cycle of the buffalo. So intertwined with the buffalo's existence are their lives that they worshiped him as a deity with the sun, moon and the earth.

Across Montana, Northern Wyoming and Southern Canada, the Crow followed the Northern herd, keeping a way of life they have known for thousands of years.