Illinois Public Media News

We're taking a look back at the news of 2023 with the big political/government stories from Illinois and Washington, DC.

instead of our usual reporter roundtable, we take a sonic journey through the biggest stories of 2023, as covered by The 21st Show.

The buffalo sustained Native Americans for hundreds of generations — until they were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s. Those stories — and how the buffalo have recovered — are the subject of the latest documentary from Ken Burns, called “The American Buffalo.” University of Illinois Professor Rosalyn LaPier was featured prominently in the film. In October, before a live studio audience in Urbana, she talked with Brian Mackey about the film and her background as a member of the Blackfeet of Montana.

The buffalo sustained Native Americans for hundreds of generations — until they were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s. Those stories — and how the buffalo have recovered — are the subject of the latest documentary from Ken Burns, called “The American Buffalo.” Today we’ll hear two conversations about the film. First, with Burns himself. Then, with one of the indigenous experts featured in the film — University of Illinois Professor Rosalyn LaPier.