A Policy of Systemic Violence
The non-native westerner’s erasure of my people is accompanied by a proclivity to mythologicalize us. One example of the latter in practice is the commonly stated “I admire the spiritual connection [you] have to animals.” Our relationship to organic matter oughtn’t be seen as fantastical mythologies. While Indigenous folx are not homogeneous, with each of the many nations [tribes] throughout the diaspora having their own distinct cultural pratices, languages, and beliefs (Afraid of Bear, n.d.), it’s quite commonly shared amongst tribal communities that we have a responsibility to be good stewards of, and hold reverance for, the land and its occupants (Foxworth, 2020, para6). This ideology is commonly understood and taught to Indigenous youth throughout the diaspora, where “stewardship is woven into all lands, nourishing vibrant ecosystems and communities” (Stewarding Native Lands, 2026). Yet this relationship to land is not to be mythologized or romanticized; there exists a profoundly logical rationale behind the relationships we have with animals.
When the buffalo thrives, we thrive.
When the buffalo dies, we die.
One genocidal tactic employed by the United States in their early occupation of Turtle Island was the destruction of natural resources and food supply; this included the massacre of buffalo. The occupier’s sanctioning and enactment of the slaughter reduced the buffalo population from millions to approximately 500 (Clark, 2023, para1). This resulted in the forced starvation and/or displacement of Indigenous people who were sedentary or semi-sedentary to The Plains, and the nomadic hunting tribes who would follow the buffalo across The Plains.
This was no accident. The executive order for the buffalo massacre was in response to The Indian Question, which sought the most effective methods for exterminating or otherwise controlling the indigenous of Turtle Island. “Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone” (Phippen, 2016, para2).
Our survival was dependent upon the buffalo.
Our experience is shared by the buffalo.
When the buffalo thrives, we thrive. When the buffalo dies, we die.
To Cite this Article in APA7
Drost, A.R. (2026). A policy of violence. The Braided Strategist. https://thebraidedstrategist.com/articles/a-policy-of-systemic-violence
Discussion Questions for Exerperienced & Emerging Leaders
“Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone” illustrates how policy decisions can devastate entire communities. Can you say with certainty your company doesn’t engage in harming indigenous peoples and other vulnerable stakeholders?
The harm companies cause isn’t always deliberate. In what ways might companies unintentionally perpetuate colonial patterns of resource extraction, and how can they actively dismantle these patterns?
How do you ensure your organization strategizes to avoid harm?
References
Afraid of Bear, L. (n.d.). Exploring the rich traditions of American Indian culture. Running Strong for American Indian Youth. https://indianyouth.org/native-american-history-culture/
Clark, C. (2023). Buffalo slaughter left lasting impact on Indigenous peoples. Emory University. https://news.emory.edu/stories/2023/08/esc_bison_impact_24-08-2023/story.html
Foxworth, R. (2020). Protecting the earth, protecting ourselves: Stories from Native America. Nonprofit Quarterly. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/protecting-the-earth-protecting-ourselves-stories-from-native-america
Phippen, J.W. (2016). Kill every buffalo you can! Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2016/05/the-buffalo-killers/482349/
