Defenders of Wildlife Supports Texas Tribal Buffalo Project in Honoring National Bison Day
The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP) is honored to receive a contribution from Defenders of Wildlife in recognition of National Bison Day, celebrated this year on November 1, 2025. This partnership marks another important step in our ongoing efforts to restore the Southern Plains Buffalo (Iyane’e) to their rightful home on the lands of the Lipan Apache people in southern Texas.
A Shared Commitment to Bison Restoration and Indigenous Land Stewardship
Defenders of Wildlife contributed $400 to support the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project’s mission of bison conservation and Indigenous-led land restoration. This contribution supports TTBP’s work to heal the land, restore ecosystems, and reconnect Indigenous people to traditional foodways and spiritual relationships with the Buffalo.
Buffalo (Iyane’e) are more than keystone species—they are relatives, teachers, and vital partners in the ecological balance of the Southern Plains. Their return to Indigenous-managed lands helps revitalize soil health, biodiversity, and cultural heritage for generations to come.
“We’re deeply grateful for this support from Defenders of Wildlife,” said Lucille Contreras, Founder and CEO of the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project. “Every act of solidarity brings us closer to restoring Buffalo to our homelands and reawakening the deep relationships between land, people, and animal nations.”
Defenders of Wildlife’s support underscores the growing recognition that Indigenous stewardship is central to conservation. Through initiatives like this, both organizations reaffirm their commitment to protecting wildlife, restoring ecosystems, and honoring the sacred relationship between humans and the more-than-human world.
About the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
Founded and led by Lipan Apache woman Lucille Contreras, the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project is the only Indigenous- and woman-owned bison ranch in Texas that accepts SNAP benefits and ships nationwide. The organization’s mission is to restore the Buffalo (Iyane’e) to their southern homelands, revitalize Indigenous foodways, and create pathways toward healing through food, land, and culture.