NPR/Montana Public Radio covered a remarkable event at the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, where world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed for a herd of bison as part of a community gathering supported by the Doris Duke Foundation. This event, held at Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, celebrated the Blackfeet Nation's efforts to restore free-roaming bison to their ancestral lands—a species that holds profound cultural, spiritual and ecological importance to the tribe.
The gathering was part of Yo-Yo Ma's "Our Common Nature" initiative, which seeks to connect people with the natural world through music, cultural exchange and collaboration. Organized in partnership with the Blackfeet Nation and INDIGENOUS LED, the event featured ceremonies, storytelling and music, bringing attention to the critical role of Indigenous-led conservation in ecological restoration and cultural revitalization.
Listen to the NPR/Montana feature below or on their website, where a transcript is also available.