Keystone: The Prodigies of an Icon — Part I launches The Prodigies of an Icon film series with a bold, ground-level look at North America’s most important conservation story. Through ranchers, scientists, and on-the-ground voices, Keystone explores why bison matter—not as nostalgia, not as politics, but as a living force shaping soil, grasslands, wildlife, and the future of working landscapes.
LOGLINE
An intimate documentary exploring the American bison as a keystone species—and the ecological forces, behaviors, and relationships that continue to shape living landscapes across the American West.
SYNOPSIS
Native: The Prodigies of an Icon is a multi-part documentary series exploring the American bison not as a symbol or spectacle, but as a living force that has shaped land, culture, and survival across North America.
Part I: Keystone establishes the ecological foundation of the series. It examines why bison matter—how they evolved alongside the continent’s grasslands, how their behavior shaped soil, water, and biodiversity, and why their unique physical and social traits made them one of the most effective land-shaping mammals on Earth. From their historic expansion across the plains to the characteristics that allowed them to endure near-extinction, Keystone explains what makes bison essential to healthy ecosystems.
Rather than beginning with modern management or romanticized history, Keystone answers the fundamental question on which the entire series rests: why the bison is indispensable-then and now.
RELEVANCE: AMERICAN BISON & CONSERVATION
- The American bison is a keystone species essential to grassland health, biodiversity, and soil regeneration.
- Restoration efforts today are often led by working landowners and tribal nations.
- Bison stewardship connects wildlife conservation, food systems, cultural heritage, and rural livelihoods.
MISSION
The Native series exists to tell honest stories about land, animals, and people without nostalgia, politics, or spectacle.
The project elevates voices rarely heard and presents conservation as a lived responsibility carried forward by real communities.
SCREENINGS & REVIEWS
January 21, 2026
Private Premiere
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Westminister, Colorado
Hosted By:
National Buffalo Foundation & The Buffalo Wool Company
Reviews from Screening:
5 Star
“Very informative and interesting”
Nikki Zar
Diamond T Ranch
5 Star
“Wonderful Job!”
Chris Roper
Flowerhill Institute
5 Star
“Great, educational, moving”
Ed Spevak
Saint Louis Zoo
5 Star
“Very powerful movie with a lot of important information about the role of bison.”
Alex Shupinski
South Dakota State University
5 Star
“Really interesting and insightful! Excited for the follow ups”
Sam Hazel
Red Devil Bison Farm
4 Star
“The cinematography was excellent. You had great footage in many different environments, some of which the casual viewer has not likely seen bison in before. Your interviewees were all excellent, especially the retired Canadian ranger whose name escspes me. To that point – I am a very fast reader, but the people’s names and titles weren’t large enough or up long enough to read them before they were gone. I think you definitely succeeded in communicating why bison are a keystone species, and how there are great benefits to having greater numbers of bison in larger areas. One question I was left with was, why do the tribes have so few bison today? I’d like to have heard a little more about that. I enjoyed the music used throughout. It was good in tempo and conveyance of mood. An excellent start to what I hope is a successful series of films. Well done!”
Julie Marsh
Arvada, CO.
5 Star
“Great ! The quality was amazing, so much attention to detail. A good mix of different sme (subject matter experts) that shared their knowledge. A focus on Buffalo but truly on ecology. Well done The amount of footage and the variety of locations was impressive.”
Brian Farmer
Yankee Farmers Market & Pitcher Mountain Farm
5 Star
“I enjoyed the film very much. It was very informative and easy to understand the topics discussed!”
Peggy Ellis
Bison Canyon Ranch
4 Star
“Well done, but I was expecting one film not a series”
Roberta English
Wildlife Prairie Park
5 Star
“Tremendous combination of imagery, music, and dialog. The presentation was beautiful. The story was powerful. I cannot wait for the next Episode!”
Tim Cundiff
Wildlife Prairie Park, Peoria, Illinois
5 Star
“Absolutely Amazing! Thank You for putting all of this together for us to enjoy. 😊 The scenery throughout was perfect. The animals were Beautiful. And the knowledge that the people shared was Top Notch. Highly Recommend!”
Clint Holmes
HomeStyle, Bison Tallow Products
4 Star
“Great content, but I had trouble understanding the speakers at times because of background music.”
Michael Stanley
Bison Canyon Ranch