Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative

The return of

The Buffalo

(Boy-zhan Bi-den)

The Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative is

Restoring our Connection with the Buffalo

Healing the Land, Healing Ourselves

Millions of Buffalo once roamed the Great Plains of America. They were integral to the ecosystem of prairies and the Native peoples who long called them home.

Buffalo provided food, clothing, and shelter, and were essential in the spiritual ceremonies of Tribes. Nearly every part of the animal was used, including horns, meat, and tail hairs.

As we work to restore the Buffalo, a process of renewal and healing begins that balances human, animal, and environmental health.

Our mission

Buffalo Territory

Before 1800, it is estimated that 60 million Buffalo roamed the plains of North America. By 1900, there were fewer than two dozen left in Yellowstone.

Map of the original bison range in North America

Notes from Sage Country

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“The Buffalo was part of us, his flesh and blood being absorbed by us until it became our own flesh and blood. Our clothing, our tipis, everything we needed for life came from the buffalo’s body. It was hard to say where the animals ended and the human began.”

– John (Fire) Lame Deer, Lame Deer Seeker of Visions

BUFFALO USES

Meet Jason Baldes

Founder of Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative

“The Buffalo have helped me, personally. I know that as the Buffalo heal and are restored to this land, our people will also be healed and restored. Because, we have a connection with them. We are people of the Buffalo.”

OUR FOUNDER

The Story of the Buffalo

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News & Stories

The Wind River BioBlitz

Caption for Photo: Nataani Hays shows Colleen Bell a patch of Buffalo fur he found during the Wind River BioBlitz. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies JULY 11, 2024 Except from Article by Audubon Rockies By Evan Barrientos, Audubon Rockies In coming together around...

Colossal Announces New Indigenous Partnerships and Forms Indigenous Council to Prioritize the Conservation, De-Extinction, Rewilding and Rematriation Issues that Matter to Tribal Communities in the US

Caption for Photo: Pictured L-R Eric Kash Kash (Director, Wildlife Division of the Nez Perce Tribe), Leah Brickson (Senior Computational Scientist) , Aaron Miles (Manager, Natural Resources of the Nez Perce Tribe), Dr. Beth Shapiro (Chief Science Officer), Absolem...

The National Geographic Society Announces the Recipients of the 2024 Wayfinder Award Presented by Kia

Caption for Photo: 2024 Wayfinder Award Recipients JUNE 6, 2024 Excerpt from Press Release from National Geographic The awards name 15 new National Geographic Explorers for their local and global contributions that push boundaries. WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 6, 2024) —...

Reaching Our Goal

We are restoring the Wind River Indian Reservation with conservation Buffalo, free of cattle genetics and protected under Tribal law. Our goal is to have 1,000 or more.