The Ghost Dance movement was a result of the slow but ever present destruction of the Native American's way of life. Tribal land was being seized at alarming rates. The once great bison herds where nearly hunted to extinction. The plains tribes entire way of life revolved around the bison and with out them Natives American tribes rapidly lost stability and security forcing them to rely on the government to provide rations to keep them from starving. The way of life of these independent people was rapidly fading. Ghost Dance brought hope. The white man would soon disappear the buffalo herds would return. People would be reunited with loved ones who had since passed away and the old way of living before the white man, would return. This was not just a religious movement but a response to the gradual cultural destruction of their way of life