Buffalo Homecoming

Since 2020, The Nature Conservancy has partnered with Tribal nations and Indigenous-led organizations, including the InterTribal Buffalo Council and Tanka Fund, to return buffalo to their ancestral lands. These aren’t just conservation transfers—they’re acts of healing. Buffalo are seen as relatives by many Native peoples, central to cultural, spiritual and ecological life. Their return is a restoration of balance.

From 2022 through 2024, 162 buffalo from Broken Kettle were transferred to Tribal communities in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Minnesota. Across all TNC preserves, more than 2,300 buffalo have made this journey home since the partnership began.

The impact of buffalo on the land is profound. Their grazing patterns shape the prairie, their wallows collect rainwater, and their presence supports countless other species. Plants sprout in their hoofprints. Seeds travel in their fur. Their movements create habitat for water-loving organisms and grassland birds. But their deeper role as a keystone species for Indigenous communities is what reshapes the narrative.

Historically, TNC sold surplus buffalo to help manage herd sizes. Then we asked: What if we gave them back instead?

That question sparked a shift. TNC now works to support Tribal stewardship, recognizing that buffalo are not just conservation tools—they are more. Each transfer is a step toward reconciliation, honoring the deep stewardship of Native peoples and restoring the prairies to their full, living story.

With more than 6,000 buffalo from 11 herds across TNC’s network of preserves, TNC is committed to expanding this effort. From Broken Kettle and beyond, the buffalo are coming home—and bringing with them a future rooted in respect, resilience and renewal.