InterTribal Buffalo Council

06/05/2026

Grant Announcement: Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program
The Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program, administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, is a national effort to strengthen the economic viability, ecological performance, and market access of bison producers across the United States. The U.S. bison industry faces significant barriers, including limited processing and market access, insufficient coordinated technical and business support for producers, and varying levels of production capacity. This program addresses those barriers by pairing targeted financial support with hands-on technical guidance from industry experts.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has awarded funding to three partner organizations—Flower Hill Institute (FHI), the National Bison Association (NBA), and Mad Agriculture (Mad Ag)—to administer the Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program (BPMGP).

Through the partnership of NBA, Mad Ag, and FHI, this initiative integrates on-the-ground production support, business and operational development, and market access and industry coordination. By aligning financial resources with technical assistance and market development expertise, the program will strengthen production systems, improve business performance, expand market participation, and generate actionable insights for the broader bison industry.

For more information or to apply here: https://nationalbison.org/bison-production-and-marketing-grant-program/

The National Bison Association brings together stakeholders to celebrate the heritage of American bison, to educate, and to create a sustainable future for our industry.

06/04/2026

https://www.kosu.org/wichita-mountains-time-capsule-2026

This week, the InterTribal Buffalo Council was honored to participate in the 125th Anniversary Celebration of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma.

Established in 1901, the refuge has played a vital role in conserving one of America's most iconic landscapes and wildlife populations. In 1907, 15 buffalo from the Bronx Zoo were brought to the refuge, helping preserve a species that had been pushed to the brink of extinction. Today, the refuge's buffalo herd stands as a powerful reminder of the importance of conservation, stewardship, and restoration.

The celebration reflected on the refuge's remarkable history while looking ahead to the next century through the opening of a 100-year-old time capsule and the creation of a new one for future generations.

As we celebrate 125 years of conservation, we also recognize that the story of this land stretches back thousands of years through the stewardship, wisdom, and resilience of Tribal Nations. We are grateful to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, its staff, and its partners for preserving this extraordinary landscape and helping ensure that buffalo, wildlife, and prairie ecosystems continue to thrive for Tribes and generations to come.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge celebrated its 125th anniversary on Tuesday, remembering efforts to restore species integral to the environment and the people who shaped the landscape of Southwest Oklahoma.

06/04/2026

Notice!! Upcoming 1st batch deadline to close July 6th, 2026, for ITBC Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

For more information on eligible conservation practices and available technical assistance, contact:

Cassie Powell
Northern Great Plains RCPP Project Director for Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 605-394-9730

Paige Schmidt
Southeast RCPP Project Director for Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Florida.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 605-394-9730

Beth Baragary
Southwest RCPP Project Director for Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 816-725-8278

This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Regional Conservation Partnership Program Supplemental Agreement numbers 3454, 3503, 4154. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

05/29/2026

We are excited to announce upcoming ITBC Field Harvest Trainings! Thank you to our hosting Tribes for providing a space for these exciting opportunities!

Join us for one full training day (8a-5p) and one half-day of training (8a-12p) focused on field harvesting, food sovereignty efforts, USDA meat processing expectations, mobile harvest trailer operation, and more. Guest speakers will include Tribal buffalo program employees, local food sovereignty leaders, USDA representatives, ITBC staff, and employees from other Tribal organizations.

On the first day, we will review the recently developed ITBC Mobile Harvest Trailer guide and hear from guest speakers on various topics related to field harvesting and food sovereignty. On the second day, participants will gain hands-on experience harvesting with a mobile harvest trailer in the field.

Training dates and locations are as follows:

Region 4; Taos Pueblo; Taos, NM; June 29-30th
Region 1; Lower Brule; Brule, SD; July 20-21st
Region 2; Winnebago; Sloan, IA; July 23-24th
Region 3; Crow; Hardin, MT; August 4-5th

Please note that the above dates are training dates only. Travel dates are not included in this schedule.

Registration will close at 4p PT / 5p MT / 6p CT / 7p ET two weeks before each event.

Please email [email protected] for any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Registration can be completed here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfunfRk84hzMSZgyNdY6GqSfY2uAkv8sAVI6uO4-AjYV59Y1g/viewform?usp=dialog

05/28/2026

Last week, our President Ervin Carlson (Blackfeet Nation) stood before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs to testify in support of HR 7954 the Don Young Doug LaMalfa Indian Buffalo Management Act.

For thousands of years, buffalo sustained our people by providing food, shelter, clothing, and spiritual connection. Their near-extinction was no accident. It was a deliberate strategy to erase our way of life. But we never stopped dreaming of them and their return.

Today, the InterTribal Buffalo Council represents 90 federally recognized Tribes across 23 states and nearly 60 buffalo herds - and we are just getting started!

HR 7954 would formalize the Federal government's commitment to buffalo restoration, and help Tribes build self-sustaining herds that feed our communities, create jobs, and restore our culture.

The buffalo are coming home. 🦬 Stand with us.

05/26/2026

ITBC Board Member Randy Hawk (Cheyenne and Arapaho) recently met with partners from the BIA (Sheena Schemm) to discuss buffalo program infrastructure, water harvesting opportunities, and long-term sustainability for Tribal buffalo operations.

Healthy buffalo herds depend on healthy infrastructure, sustainable water systems, and long-term planning for future generations.

Also pictured are Ryan Long and Tony Maldonado.

05/26/2026

Tomorrow: ITBC Webinar on Carrying Capacity and Stocking Rates

Join us tomorrow for an important discussion on Carrying Capacity and Stocking Rates and how these principles support healthy buffalo herds, strong grasslands, and sustainable Tribal land management.

This webinar will explore practical strategies for balancing herd size with available forage and natural resources while supporting long-term buffalo stewardship across Tribal Nations.

We will also share updates on upcoming opportunities, programs, and resources available through the InterTribal Buffalo Council.

We look forward to seeing Tribal representatives, producers, natural resource staff, and buffalo caretakers on the call tomorrow.

When: 11 AM CDT https://zoom.us/j/98449253pwd=cbqUgOQiIyQkRmT6dwQ1Wxhay8hHj1.1

05/22/2026

This Memorial Day, the InterTribal Buffalo Council honors the Native American veterans and warriors who gave their lives in service to this country and their Tribal Nations. We remember their sacrifice, strength, and commitment to protecting our people, lands, and the future generations.

We thank all veterans and military families for their service.

05/21/2026

🦬 Iinnii Days in Blackfeet Country! 🦬
We're thrilled to share that ITBC team members Bo, CeCe, and Mikiya are in Blackfeet Country this week to celebrate and support the Blackfeet Nation at Iinnii Days!
Iinnii — the Blackfoot word for buffalo — holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Blackfoot Confederacy. In 2009, leaders of the four nations that make up the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Blackfeet Nation, Kainai Nation, Piikani Nation, and Siksika Nation, launched the Iinnii Initiative to conserve traditional lands, protect Blackfeet culture, and create a home for the buffalo to return to.
Through remarkable dedication and powerful partnerships with the Oakland Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society, Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council, Blackfeet Community College, and the American Bison Society, 88 Iinnii were reintroduced to Blackfeet lands in 2016, a historic moment for the Blackfoot people and for buffalo restoration across Turtle Island.
This celebration is a testament to what's possible when Indigenous nations lead the way. We are honored to stand alongside the Blackfeet Nation and witness the continued homecoming of the Iinnii.

05/19/2026

REMINDER! We are three days away from this Technical Services webinar!
Hello ITBC Members,

We are excited to invite you to an upcoming Technical Services Webinar on Friday, May 22nd from 10am - 11:30am MT.

The first hour will feature a guest presentation from Dr. Danielle Buttke of the National Park Service, who will provide an overview of Mycoplasma bovis and share recent research updates.

The final 30 minutes will be led by ITBC Technical Service Providers Mikiya Reuther and Augusta Rattling Hawk, who will highlight available Technical Services and facilitate a discussion on membership needs.

For questions, please contact us at [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you there!

You can register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcpC-r0jHllVH2mZEpztMcZwErUmfE7s4qJlE7TYyMBNz6cg/viewform