Most of us are aware of the rampant killing of American wildlife during the 1800s. This calamity reduced bison from an estimated 25-50 million animals to just a few hundred by 1890. Last ditch, heroic conservation efforts kept the species from slipping into extinction. An article from the Emory University News Center, that I came across, explores the little-known human consequences of the near extirpation of American bison.
The article details the economic, cultural, and demographic effects of the loss of bison on western indigenous peoples. It's part of our history and worth a read!