The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, founded by Lucille Contreras, is revitalizing Indigenous traditions by reintroducing bison to ancestral lands in Waelder, Texas. This initiative not only restores a keystone species to its native habitat but also fosters cultural reconnection, food sovereignty, and ecological resilience for the Lipan Apache and other Indigenous communities. Through regenerative agriculture and community engagement, the project exemplifies a harmonious relationship between people, animals, and the environment.

The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP), founded by Lucille Contreras, aims to heal intergenerational trauma among the Lipan Apache by restoring the traditional relationship between Indigenous communities and buffalo. In partnership with Emergence LLC, TTBP has refined its messaging and strategic planning to overcome fundraising challenges, particularly those stemming from the Lipan Apache’s lack of federal recognition and designated land base. Through this collaboration, TTBP has expanded its vision to impact tribal nations across southwestern Texas, connecting its mission to global climate change initiatives and regenerative agriculture practices. This strategic approach has garnered increased media attention and support, including Contreras’s recognition by the James Beard Foundation’s Legacy Network Program. 

The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project is redefining conservation and cultural reclamation in Texas. Through a powerful collaboration between Indigenous leadership and emerging designers, this initiative is building a land-based vision centered on Buffalo kinship, rematriation, and healing. Learn how three uniquely designed zones—focused on nourishment, knowledge, and connection—are supporting tribal sovereignty and ecological restoration on Lipan Apache homelands.

After nearly 300 years, Buffalo once again roam the lands east of San Antonio, thanks to the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project. This initiative, led by Lucille Contreras, aims to reconnect Indigenous communities with their heritage by restoring Buffalo to their native habitats. The project not only brings back a keystone species but also promotes cultural healing and environmental stewardship. Learn more about this inspiring journey of reconciliation and restoration.

The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, founded by Lipan Apache descendant Lucille Contreras, is reintroducing Buffalo to Texas landscapes to heal both the land and Indigenous communities. Through sustainable practices, educational partnerships, and cultural initiatives, the project aims to restore traditional foodways and ecological balance. Learn how this movement is fostering reconnection with ancestral lands and promoting regenerative agriculture.

The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, led by Lucille Contreras, restores bison to ancestral lands in Waelder, Texas—revitalizing Indigenous traditions and promoting food sovereignty, ecological balance, and cultural healing. By combining regenerative agriculture with community involvement, the initiative helps rebuild sacred relationships between people, animals, and the land.

The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, founded by Lucille Contreras in 2020, aims to heal generational trauma by reintroducing Buffalo to their ancestral lands in Texas. Through cultural camps and community engagement, the project fosters a reconnection between the Lipan Apache people and the land, promoting ecological restoration and cultural resilience.

The Lipan Apache, historically based around Central Texas, are recognized by the state—but not by the federal government. They have no reservation and no unified representation. That means thousands of people with Lipan heritage, like Contreras, live scattered across a state that has historically labeled Native Americans as Mexican immigrants and taught school children that Texas’ tribal people were long gone.

Restoring Heritage: Five Bison Returned to Lipan Apache Lands in Texas, Contributing to Nationwide Effort by the Nature Conservancy

After more than a century, the Lipan Apache tribe in Texas is reestablishing its connection with the buffalo through the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project. Founded by Lucille Contreras, the initiative has introduced a herd of nine bison to 77 acres of ancestral land in Waelder, Texas. This effort not only revives a vital cultural and spiritual relationship but also aims to expand buffalo herding practices among Indigenous communities across the state. The project symbolizes a broader movement toward healing, sovereignty, and ecological restoration for Native peoples in Texas.

The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP), dedicated to healing the generational trauma of Lipan Apache descendants and other Native nations, has announced its intention to become a signatory of the Buffalo Treaty. This commitment aligns with TTBP’s mission to restore the historical relationship and cultural identity inherent in the Lipan Apache-bison connection. Through initiatives like intertribal internships and community programs, TTBP seeks to make bison products accessible and provide educational experiences that reconnect people with the land and their Indigenous heritage.