- Details
- By Elyse Wild
Bison and grassland ecosystem restoration efforts in Tribal communities are getting a $1.5 million boost from the federal government.
The funding was announced today by the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and pulled from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
The funding will be divided between three Tribal-led initiatives that aim to strengthen bison conservation and expansion, improved management of existing herds, and ecosystem restoration efforts in native grassland habitats.
Bison are a keystone species that plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of diverse landscapes while also supporting economic development and Indigenous food sovereignty and security. The projects will focus on habitat restoration, genetic diversity preservation, and the expansion of bison populations in collaboration with Indigenous communities utilizing Indigenous Knowledge.
“Bison are vitally important culturally, economically, and ecologically. These investments from the President’s Investing in America agenda support our efforts to revitalize Tribal cultures and communities and help conserve and restore important ecosystems that benefit all Americans,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland in a statement. “This exemplifies the Biden-Harris administration’s dedication to building a more resilient and sustainable future for Tribal nations and all Americans.”
The funding, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is part of the Department’s Grasslands Keystone Initiative, unveiled as part of a Restoration and Resilience Framework that is guiding $2 billion in investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to restore lands and waters and advance climate resilience. The Framework also includes a commitment to restoring core sagebrush areas across the Western States and into Alaska, where bison once thrived.
Bison populations in the United States once numbered upwards of 60 million. In the mid-1800s, a federally sanctioned campaign to eradicate the species took hold, and in just 20 years, from 1870 to 1890, there remained just 500 buffalo. The devastating slaughter was driven by efforts to eradicate Native American populations, who relied on the bison for bison for food, clothing, shelter, tools, and weapons.
The near eradication of bison led to the decline of healthy grassland ecosystems and, eventually, to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s
Thanks to conservation efforts, the buffalo population is slowly climbing, sitting at around 31,000.
Bison heard expansion projects awarded portions of the funds include:
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma: The project aims to enhance the existing bison herd of around 650 by doubling the pasture area on Tribal lands, addressing infrastructure needs, and incorporating climate-smart practices. The project will increase herd size, improve ecosystem health, and explore a market for bison products, resulting in ecological restoration, cultural preservation, and economic development in Northwest Oklahoma.
- Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota: The project focuses on expanding the Twin Buttes Hans Creek bison range by building a 10,000-acre pasture on Tribal lands to support the expansion of the existing 250-head bison herd. Expansion would allow an increase in capacity of up to 4,000 bison. The program, rooted in Indigenous values, seeks ecological restoration by rewilding, acknowledging the critical role of large-scale bison herds in maintaining ecosystem health. Indian Affairs will provide funding for fencing materials to complete the pasture expansion, supporting the spiritual and cultural beliefs of the Nueta while also supporting sustainable bison management practices.
- Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation, Idaho: The project seeks to reintroduce buffalo on traditional grazing lands, enhancing food and economic sovereignty for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. With a current buffalo count of 465, the project aims to expand the herd to 1,100 by introducing additional buffalo and fostering cultural significance, employment opportunities, and economic gain. The project aligns with the goals of environmental resilience and mitigating climate change impacts through soil health management. Indian Affairs funding will support infrastructure for animal control, management, and public safety by repairing or replacing fencing and watering systems.
More Stories Like This
Interior Department Announces Over $119 Million for Abandoned Coal Mine ReclamationOsage Minerals Council Celebrates the Final Dismissal of Hayes II Litigation
Bad River Chairman: "Line 5 is a daily threat to our clean rivers and lakes, our fish, and our wild rice."
Navajo Nation Council Speaker Curley Announces Public Hearing on Federal Coal Industry Initiatives
NDN Fund Continues to Support of Landback Efforts in Copper River Delta, Alaska
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
