In an era of an increasing and overwhelming climate crises and biodiversity loss, the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes offer a promising solution: Indigenous-led, ecosystem-based restoration. A solution that exemplifies that Tribal Nations are not just participants in conservation – they are leaders.
August 14th, 2025, Turtle Mountain Ranch
In 2023, the Tribes received a $5 million grant from the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC), supporting a new phase of buffalo restoration for the Tribes. The ABTC grant acknowledges this leadership by helping to scale up Tribal restoration that’s rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, including traditional ecological knowledge. The ABTC grant supports herd health and range ecological assessments within the 19,000 acre Turtle Mountain ranch. These assessments are then used to identify and implement necessary improvements in habitat, workforce development, and community engagement strategies.
And here’s how that funding works on the ground:
During my recent visit to the Fort Peck reservation, I saw firsthand how the reintroduction of buffalo is not just about repairing damaged ecosystems –it’s about restoring and deepening relationships between land, buffalo, and people.
Seeing buffalo on the land– where they hadn’t been in generations– is living proof of what is possible when Tribal leadership, traditional ecological knowledge, and funder support come together. The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes understand that modern conservation is only beginning to realize that true ecological restoration must be rooted in culture, community and Indigenous knowledge.
The ATBC grant funds soil restoration, invasive species control and improved fencing which are all crucial components for managing a growing herd. Buffalo movement patterns and diet help shape the biodiversity and health of the prairie. Jonny Bearcub, spoke about land health, climate adaptation, and data, emphasizing that they use the grant to gather soil science data to make informed decisions to better improve land and buffalo health. Robbie Magnan, Fort Peck Buffalo Herd Manager stated, “When the Buffalo are healthy, the people are healthy.” To the Tribes, the buffalo and the land are inseparable.
This effort doesn’t stop with the land – it continues on with youth.
The ABTC grant also supports youth programming that connects students with Indigenous knowledge systems that reinforce traditional ecological knowledge. Throughout the year, youth are brought to the ranch to learn about the importance of buffalo, culture, and history. An example of this ongoing education is how educator Bob Mc’anally uses the winter count to teach Tribal history of the buffalo and the importance of leadership within the reintroduction of buffalo. While listening to him speak, he explains how it was an honor and a role in itself to be the winter count keeper and that this tradition continues. The Fort Peck Cultural Buffalo Program is modeling intergenerational change.
Bob Mc’anally, August 14th, 2025, Turtle Mountain Ranch
Another critical component of the Fort Peck Assiniboine/ Sioux Tribe’s success is that this project aims to expand the acreage available to the herd which improves pasture rotation and allows for more natural grazing cycles. The ultimate goal is to expand to 150,000 acres – significantly increasing the buffalo population. This expansion, rooted in responsible land acquisition, not only supports wildlife preservation but also strengthens Tribal sovereignty, ensuring the autonomy to manage and protect their ancestral lands.
The Fort Peck Assiniboine/Sioux Tribes are the first Tribal Nation to establish a quarantine facility in partnership with Yellowstone National Park – helping assure full-strain buffalo return to Tribal lands after quarantine completion. Once quarantine is complete, the Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, transports the buffalo to Tribal Nations across the United States and Canada. This demonstrates a model for Tribal-led conservation that actively works towards expanding both its buffalo population and its influence.
It’s one thing to work behind the scenes on rallying support for community-led initiatives. But to stand on the land, take in the quiet, clean air, and witness meaningful collaboration– was inspiring. With Indigenous-led, ecosystem-based restoration. I thought to myself: this is only the beginning. The potential is indescribable.
When funding is channeled through Tribal-led conservation projects, the impact is integrated into nearly all aspects of their lives and the results are intergenerational and sustainable.
About The Author: Anpo Jensen (Oglala Lakota) was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and earned her B.S in Environmental Systems Engineering and her M.S in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, where she was the first Native woman on Stanford’s Student Global Health Board. As a writer, author, and poet, she interweaves her experiences as an Oglala woman, engineer, Tribal college adjunct instructor and advocate for Indigenous solutions in global health & climate change in her creations.