For centuries, the largest mammal in North America has been known by two names: bison and Buffalo. This duality reflects the history, culture, and science that surrounds our relative that once roamed the plains in the tens of millions.
What is in a name? Can both names be used interchangeably?
Two Names, One Animal
While scientifically labeled as Bison bison bison (genus, species, subspecies), most Native Tribes have long referred to them as “Buffalo.” This naming isn’t simply a matter of terminology—it represents our connection with the animal and its role in our lives, health and history.
The word “Buffalo” is derived from the term “bœuf,” the French word for “beef.” When French fur trappers first encountered them in the 1600s, they likely gave them the name because the animals reminded them of water buffalo and Cape buffalo they knew from other parts of the world. Over time, “bœuf” evolved into “Buffalo” in American English.
The Shoshone word for Buffalo is Boy-szhan, and the Arapaho word is Hii3einon. Learn the pronunciation.
Scientific Name vs. Cultural Connection
From a strictly scientific perspective, “buffaloes” refer to a species native to Africa and Asia. The African Cape buffalo and Asian water buffalo belong to different genera than the North American bison. They can be distinguished by several features:
- Bison have shorter, sharper horns
- Bison are dark brown, while buffalo species tend to be dark gray or black
- Bison have distinctively large heads, shoulder humps, and “beards”
- Bison shed their thick fur coats seasonally
However, the name “Buffalo” carries centuries of cultural and spiritual meaning on Turtle Island, (now referred to as North America). For Native Tribes, including those of the Wind River Reservation, Buffalo represents far more than wildlife.
The Buffalo are our relative — beings with whom we’ve shared a reciprocal relationship since time immemorial. Buffalo provided sustenance, shelter, tools, art, and clothing for centuries. In return, we honored the Buffalo through our ceremonies, reciprocity, and sustaining their spirit through ours.
The choice to use the word “Buffalo” connects us to this ancestral relationship established long before scientific classifications were introduced to North America. The name carries the weight of ceremonies, stories, and traditions passed down through generations.
We often choose to capitalize “Buffalo” to acknowledge its role as a family member. We are Buffalo people. In this way, we give respect and gratitude for the nourishment and healing the animal provides.
A Keystone Species
Beyond cultural significance, these animals—whether called bison or Buffalo—serve as keystone species in the high plains ecosystem. Their contributions are numerous:
- They fertilize the soil with their droppings
- They disperse native plant seeds through their movements and digestive systems
- Their hooves aerate the soil, promoting healthy plant growth
- Their wallowing creates depressions that collect water, forming microhabitats
- Their bodies (both living and deceased) provide habitat and sustenance for other species
Bison vs. Buffalo: Embracing Both Names
Today, both “bison” and “Buffalo” remain in common usage across the country and throughout Tribes. Rather than viewing this as a contradiction, it can be an opportunity to embrace the multifaceted relationship between humans and wild animals.
When we say “bison,” we acknowledge the scientific understanding that helps us protect and manage these animals. When we say “Buffalo,” we honor the relationship between peoples and animals who share the land we call home.
At the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, we recognize both names, understanding that the choice of terminology often reflects not just what we call these animals, but how we see our relationship with them—both in the past and far into the future.