Indigenous Arts Take Centre Stage in New York with Buffalo Parade and New Film

A series of major Indigenous artistic events are set to transform the cultural landscape in the United States this August and September, highlighting themes of resilience and the deep-rooted connection between Indigenous peoples and the natural world. In New York City, a large-scale public art experience titled “Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi” will see 50 life-sized buffalo puppets roam the streets of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn on 19-20 September 2026. Created by Amir Nizar Zuabi in partnership with elders from the Lakota and Lenape tribes, the interactive parade features puppets maneuvered by New York practitioners. The event serves to acknowledge the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence while honouring a history that predates the United States. Zuabi stated that the production aims to memorialise the land’s long history and foster a new chapter of empathy and respect for both the land and its people. The buffalo, the national mammal of the U.S., was selected as a symbol of reckoning and repair. Simultaneously, the new documentary film “Horse Power” has opened in American theatres this August, exploring the historic bond between humans and horses. A central figure in the film is Clayson Benally, a Diné horse listener and practitioner from the Black Mesa region of the Navajo Nation. Benally, who is also a silversmith and traditional medicine practitioner, shares his insights into the spiritual and ecological importance of horses. He noted that horses have been with his people since the beginning of time, carrying both burdens and vital lessons about human connection. Directed by Rob Sullivan and narrated by actor Josh Brolin, the film captures Benally riding across the Arizona landscape to demonstrate the trust and loyalty earned from wild mustangs. These events coincide with Indigenous New York Fashion Week, which runs from 10-15 September, further elevating Indigenous creators on the global stage.