Multi-state effort brings over 2,300 bison back to Indigenous communities

February 18, 2025

Thanks to a multi-state effort led by the Tanka Fund, the Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council, and The Nature Conservancy, over 2,300 bison have been returned to Indigenous communities since 2020. This effort aims to revitalize the bison population, which once roamed the Great Plains in the millions before near extinction. These organizations are restoring bison not only for ecological conservation but also for cultural, spiritual, and economic benefits. Tanka Fund Executive Director Dawn Sherman emphasized the significance of the bison's return to Native communities, noting its role in food sovereignty, health, and community development.

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