When Buffalo Ran: A Frontier Classic of Childhood on the Plains

by George Bird Grinnell

When Buffalo Ran tells the story of a young, mid nineteenth century Plains Indian, named Wikis. As Wikis grows, he encounters many wild buffalo and enemy tribes. Along the way, he is guided by his uncle, a mentor and tutor, who teaches him all the necessary skills to become an Indian Brave.

After dedicating a lifetime to researching Native Americans, Grinnell’s compelling book artistically captures the voice of a young plains Indian, and his life on the plains. Readers will sympathize with Wikis throughout his adventures, laughing, crying and learning new things with him as he grows from a young boy to a skilled and fearsome warrior for his people.

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Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

George Bird Grinnell was an American anthropologist, historian, naturalist, and writer. Grinnell was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in 1870 and a Ph.D. in 1880. Originally specializing in zoology, he became a prominent early conservationist and student of Native American life. Grinnell has been recognized for his influence on public opinion and work on legislation to preserve the American bison. Mount Grinnell is named after Grinnell.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's plenty of potential in this book first published in 1920 by Yale University Press. I gave it four stars, but I question my own decision-making sometimes. It's a strong four.

This space and airy simple, but effective tale of the life of Wikis, growing into a warrior when his people needed him the most out on The Great Plains against other tribes, the US Cavalry, hunger, and injury, pursuing food is only 114 pages. It could easily be a (YA) Young Adult Book long before literary agents came up with the term. It could also easily be used as a scriptwriter's base for a movie, or documentary.

Oddly George Bird Grinnell's book doesn't clearly, or firmly, name Wiki's tribe, but they were friends of the Arapaho. It was with the Arapaho that Wiki had his first successful raid, and the Plains Indian situation was better understood, too. Each tribe had its own allies, but was basically an island of people.

Grinnell was a New Yorker, but went on some hunts out west, led by Pawnee scouts, and he is credited with being an influential conservationist. Good enough to influence Teddy Roosevelt.

This is a book that I inherited from my Mom. Thanks Mom.

[Eric Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by one of the best Cheyenne scholars, and collector of primary sources, this book does a great job balancing history and prose. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read something light about life on the Plains. This coming-of-age novel is worth the time.

[Theodore Kermes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is a work of nonfiction. It claims that it is the true story of a Native American named Wikis. We follow their life from childhood to adulthood. It ends with the foreboding of the Indian Wars of the late 19th Century and the devastation of the Plains peoples.

This read like a coming of age story. We get a peak into what the life of Plains peoples may have lived like. It's a first person narrative that is recounted to us by Wikis. I was getting some Black Elk Speaks vibes from this book. It's kind of sad because it documents the end of an era.

[Richard G. Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The respect the American Indians had for the other members of their tribe.

Learning what it was like for a young boy growing up to becoming a man as a member of his tribe.

[Jessica Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent memoir

Very good 👍 has the right thing of truth. This is what I want in a statement of history. Truth

[Dorothea L Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Buffalo Ran

This is a very good book, with a good story line, about a young Native American boy, growing into a brave,and good man and a good provider for his family.

[Mandy Prestenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually a quick read that I have recommended to my husband. I really thought it was full of information and a true back story, leading to me being happy about this purchase.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, quick read.

[Bulu Iraddim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book that tells you what to feel. It trusts you to notice what is missing. It trusts you to sit with the silence.

[Julie Richert-Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

First person account of a young man, "Wikis", tribe unspecified but likely Cheyenne, and his memories of village life near the South Platte river. Poignant, affectionate and spare, with charming vignettes of social and domestic details. Just enough of a glimpse to illuminate the personal cost of the settling of the West.

It was but a few years after I took Standing Alone for my wife, when my oldest boy was four years old, that the wars were begun between the white people and my tribe. This was a hard time. It is true we killed many white people and captured much property, but though most of the tribe did not seem to see that it was so, my uncle and I felt that the Indians were being crowded out, pushed further and further away from where we had always been—where we belonged. After each expedition through the country by white troops and after each fight that we had with the white men, we felt as if some great hand that was all around my tribe and all the other tribes, was closing a little tighter about us all, and that at last it would grasp us and squeeze us to death.
Of that bad time and of what followed that time, I do not wish to speak, and so my story ends.

[Darlene Cypser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating first person account

Fascinating first person account by a young Cheyenne who tells of his life growing up in the mid-19th century. Very interesting!