ITBC, Heinert move ten buffalo to Taos Pueblo

In 2012 Democrat Martin Heinrich defeated Republican Heather Wilson, his predecessor in Congress and today thanks to efforts led by Sen. Heinrich bison have become America's National Mammal.

Now, with cooperation from Democratic former South Dakota State Senator and Sicangu citizen, Troy Heinert more bison are coming home to the Nations. With Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland in attendance and in cooperation with Colorado State University the Rapid City-based InterTribal Buffalo Council just moved five yearling bulls and five heifers with Yellowstone genetics to the Taos Pueblo. 

“We commonly refer to bison as buffalo due to historical and linguistic reasons. When European settlers first encountered the bison which resembled the buffalo they were familiar with from other parts of the world they began calling the bison buffalo. This term became widely used in the English language. Many of our tribes had their own names for bison in their respective languages. However as communication between our people and European settlers increased, the term buffalo became adopted more broadly. So, the term buffalo is deeply intertwined in our history as a symbol of cultural identity, spiritual connection, resilience, and the challenges faced by our people in the face of colonization and environmental change.”

Almost 37 years ago, Frank and Deborah Popper’s collaborative academic article was published in a small magazine for planning professionals. On March 27 the couple visited Montana State University in Bozeman for a public presentation and discussion about how things have changed since their article was first published. [Buffalo Commons authors look back at evolution of their Great Plains bison concept]

The Oakland Zoo just sent fourteen more buffalo for a total of 38 to the Blackfeet Nation. But, whether it's American Prairie's bison grazing on Bureau of Land Management ground in Montana, the US Department of Agriculture killing cattle on the Gila or feds shooting goats in the Tetons socialized grazing just isn't enough to keep some Republicans happy. 

It's time to rewild parts of the Mountain West by connecting the CM Russell Wildlife Refuge in Montana along the Missouri River to Oacoma, South Dakota combined with corridors from Yellowstone National Park to the Yukon in the north and south to the Rio Grande through Nebraska, eastern Colorado, western Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.

Watch the ITBC video at their Faceberg page. 

Learn more at the Missoulian.

ip image: buffalo graze at Wind Cave National Park in occupied South Dakota.