Buffalo Are Back: Founder Lucille Contreras Featured on Quivira Coalition’s Down to Earth Podcast
We’re honored to share that our Founder and CEO, Lucille Contreras, was recently featured on the Down to Earth Podcast by Quivira Coalition, in an episode titled “Buffalo Are Back.” In this powerful conversation, Lucille speaks on the importance of buffalo in Indigenous culture, land stewardship, and the movement to restore food sovereignty through regenerative ranching.
Lucille Contreras (Lipan Apache) is the visionary behind the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, a Native woman-led nonprofit focused on reestablishing the relationship between buffalo, Native people, and the land. Her work is rooted in healing—of the soil, of our communities, and of ancestral foodways that have nourished Indigenous people for generations.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:
The spiritual and ecological significance of buffalo restoration
How Indigenous women are leading in regenerative agriculture
The history and mission of the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
Lucille’s journey as a Native rancher and food systems changemaker
The role of intergenerational knowledge and tribal sovereignty in climate resilience
Why Buffalo Matter for the Future of Our Food Systems
Buffalo are more than a symbol—they are a keystone species in prairie ecosystems and a sacred relative to many Indigenous nations. Their return is deeply tied to land justice, cultural survival, and regenerative practices that combat climate change and restore balance.
Lucille shares how her work challenges extractive systems by reclaiming space for Indigenous-led land stewardship rooted in community, ceremony, and care.
Join the Movement
We’re grateful to Quivira Coalition for spotlighting this story. Help us spread the word by sharing this episode and continuing the conversation around Indigenous food sovereignty and Buffalo restoration.
