Land, Language, Culture, and Education: An Examination of Rurality from Where the Buffalo Roam

Research and practice can be complicated by lesser-used qualitative perspectives that advantage theorised descriptions to define their research. Though used less, the reality reflected in a qualitative approach will more authentically represent community nuance that is better positioned to serve those communities well. The goal of this chapter is to challenge the assumptions that come with the delineation of ‘rural’ and advocate for research and practice that focuses on community (in this case, Indigenous) distinctions and subsequent strengths toward teaching and learning using the Fort Peck Buffalo restoration efforts. Since the program began, the Fort Peck bison have been transferred to tribes across the country, Most recently including 56 bison transferred to the Yakama Nation in Washington and Modoc Nation in Oklahoma in December 2022. The Fort Peck reservation is home to two separate nations, the Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes, each composed of numerous bands. The Assiniboine refer to themselves as “Nakóna” and the Sioux call themselves “Dakota”. Both tribes have an interdependent, direct, and historical relationship with bison.