How indigenous nations are bringing buffalo back to life

Indigenous communities are reintroducing buffalo to the North American prairies, one of their symbols whose presence was drastically reduced by the arrival of colonizers

Once, the great prairies of North America shook under the hooves of millions of buffalo. Their numbers significantly dwindled with the arrival of settlers, leaving Indigenous communities and local ecosystems devastated in their wake.

Today, however, there is a cultural and environmental resurgence at work: indigenous nations-the Montana First Nation among them-are fighting hard to return the buffalo to their former glory and restore equilibria to their ancestral lands.

This is more than a reintroduction process, and it is termed “rematriation” by Stō author Lee Maracle; the term holds deep cultural meaning. He says it also means reconnecting Indigenous peoples with buffalo and nature in respect to Indigenous law and honours the past, present, and the future.

Free-roaming buffalo over ecological corridors

Rematriation of the buffalo not only enhances biodiversity and ecological balance within the prairies but also brings in cultural regeneration. In 2014, a number of Indigenous nations came together to sign the Buffalo Treaty, pledging commitment to the natural restoration of such marvelous creatures. One pivotal point in such collaboration is ecological corridors that let buffalo roam free, preserve genetic diversity, and link Indigenous cultures.

To Indigenous peoples, the buffalo is more than a natural resource; it is a spiritual and cultural relative. This is accentuated in ceremonial hunts that bring elders and youth together, strengthening intergenerational bonds and reclaiming traditional knowledge lost during colonial times. In the processing of buffalo meat and bones, it becomes a moment of learning and reflection on what the relationship of humans has been to nature.

The impact of buffalo is deeper even within the soil of the prairies. Through grazing and seed dispersal, they enrich the land, and improve fertility and health. According to Melissa Arcand, a biogeochemist and member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, the restoration of bison may even help mitigate the worst causes of climate change.

Prairie soils enriched by buffalo have an exceptional potential for carbon storage, making these ecosystems significant contributors to climate resilience.

A symbol of indigenous resilience and hope: The movement to restitute buffalo to their lands stands in testimony to indigenous resilience. In that return comes healing and hope for many: a way to reconnect with their identity and the land-which waits patiently for the time.