What did the buffalo have to do with American west?

The buffalo, or bison, played a crucial role in the American West, serving as a vital resource for Indigenous peoples who relied on them for food, clothing, and materials for shelter. Their mass herds symbolized the vastness of the plains and the natural abundance of the region. However, the westward expansion of settlers and the U.S. government led to widespread hunting and near-extinction of buffalo populations, drastically impacting Native American cultures and ecosystems. The decline of the buffalo is often seen as a significant factor in the displacement and marginalization of Indigenous communities in the West.