The documentary, a two-part, four-hour series premiering on PBS on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 16-17, explores the history of the buffalo, covering more than 10,000 years to trace the animal’s evolution and its near extinction, along with the relationship between Native Americans and the buffalo, its significance to the grassland and prairie ecosystems, and tribal nations’ contributions to restoring the animal.

Directed by Ken Burns, the series was written by Dayton Duncan, produced by Julie Dunfey, a longtime colleague of Burns, with Julianna Brannum, consulting producer, of the Quahada band of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, and W. Richard West, Jr., senior adviser, a Cheyenne and founding director and director emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

Gerard Baker, originally from Mandaree and a retired National Park Service superintendent now living in Montana, is among several leading Native American scholars and experts interviewed in the film. Their stories anchor the series.

The music of Keith Bear, a world-renowned whistle player (flutist) and storyteller from New Town, is among artists with musical selections in the series. His music was recorded at Makoche Recording Studios in Bismarck.

Submitted Photo Gerard Baker is among several leading Native American scholars and experts interviewed in Ken Burns’ “The American Buffalo” documentary.

Of the documentary, Baker said, “I think it’s something as the old saying goes, ‘It’s kind of long overdue and will help with the understanding of the buffalo into society.

“I think this is real positive and it tells about the history and what is going on today. It is going to be really good, especially for those people who don’t know anything about buffalo,” he said. He said he feels it “will open up a new vision for people with buffalo.”

Baker, Burns and Duncan “go back a long ways,” as Baker said. He said Duncan wrote in his book, “Out West,” about an experience he had with Baker and buffalo that took place in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Of Burns, Baker said, “I like Burns’ style. He has a real easy style and is very thorough. When we filmed for his “National Parks” film at Mount Rushmore (in South Dakota), I asked if I could bring in students from the Pine Ridge College (in South Dakota) and he said, ‘By all means, bring them in.’ So, they were the ones that helped him out with that and then learned how to film a little bit. Most professionals would not do that.”

Baker, who was the first highest ranking Native American in the National Park Service as assistant director, has participated in several of Burns’ documentaries, including “The West,” “Battle of Little Bighorn,” “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” and now “The American Buffalo.”

Submitted Photo Keith Bear’s music is among selections in “The American Buffalo,” a new Ken Burns documentary. Bear is a world-renown whistle player (flutist) and storyteller.

Bear also said Burns is known for the quality of his work and his research.

“I ‘m very honored to be asked to be part of it,” he said of the new documentary.

He said using the music of Native people adds authenticity to it.

“A lot of times many will use everybody’s music, not even from the tribes,” he said. He said it is important to be concerned and take the time and effort to make sure that the tribal lineage is represented with the area and the animals that were involved that were so culturally significant to the people.

The buffalo was used in many ways and every part of it was used by Native Americans, according to Bear.

Submitted Photo Ken Burns, right, is the director, and Dayton Duncan, left, the writer of “The American Buffalo” documentary. Photo by Steve Holmes Photography.

“Having that continue in these ways is educational for our children and non-Native people. They have a better understanding how important these are to our people and how they still are to Native people,” he said.

A self-taught flutist, Bear ‘s talent has taken him all over the world. At first, he imitated the outdoors.

“It was nature – the wind, the birds, the bugs – that’s kind of what I imitated,” he said. Then he stopped improvising and started playing songs.

“The American Buffalo” is the second Burns documentary using Bear’s music. His music also was used in “Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery.”

Working with a Burns’ documentary, Bear said, is an opportunity to work with some great people.

Prior to today’s buffalo This photo by Eloise Ogden of The Minot Daily News is in the new Ken Burns’ series, “The American Buffalo.” The exhibit showing a Bison latifrons, center, and Smilodon fatalis, at left and right, is in the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck. The bison latifrons, with horns more than 7 feet, is an extinct species that lived in North Dakota during the last Ice Age. The Smilodon fatalis was the largest true saber-toothed cat and became extinct at the end of the Ice Age.

Clay Jenkinson, a historian and humanities scholar, of Bismarck, is also in the new documentary.