More About Us.
At Texas Tribal Buffalo Project we are a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where all employees and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all of our departments, programs, and worksites. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard.
Founder and CEO
Lucille Contreras
Lucille is the CEO and Founder of Texas Tribal Buffalo Project. This project is created to restore the traditional relationship between the Lipan Apache and our relatives the Bison. We would like to provide the indigenous communities of Texas a pathway to tribal and food sovereignty.
She is a former Information Technology Specialist, and is now working on our family ranch obtained by the USDA Farm Service Agency, Beginning Farmer, and Rancher loan program. She is excited to now live once again in the Traditional homeland of the Lipan Apache and other native nations. Also, the traditional and home range of the Southern Plains Bison.
"The buffalo is everything to us in life. Traditionally it was food and shelter as well as spiritual strength, and so today we try to use every part of the buffalo just as we used to use it before."
— Lucille Contreras, Executive Director, Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
THE BUFFALO RANCH
Bringing buffalo back to where they are from is just like bringing us, our families, back to where we were from, to acknowledge that they actually lived here. There’s people in Texas today that never knew there were ever buffalo in Texas, just like they didn’t know there were Apaches here. - Richard Gonzalez, Vice-Chairman, Lipan Apache Band of Texas
Recent News
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Texan By Nature Certification
In March of 2022, TTBP developed a partnership with AIA San Antonio Professional Practice Leadership Program. Through this partnership, Stephanie Aranda and other designers in the program developed a master plan for TTBP’s property in Waelder, TX. The plan laid out three distinct zones: a market, a headquarters, and a campsite, each designed to support the mission of the organization through a unique concept related to the buffalo.
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Lecture | Texas Tribal Buffalo Project at the Sid Richardson Museum
Video pubished by Sid Richardson Museum
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The Return of Buffalo in Texas, Providing Medicine to the Land
Article by Reza Cristián
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Listening to the Waters Speak - Lucille Contreras
Video By Movement Rights
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American Voice
Video Directed by Hayden Yates
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'Feel the energy, feel the healing'
Video By KENS 5
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Coming Home
Article By The Nature Conservancy
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Labeled 'Hispanic'
Article By Texas Observer
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Reconnecting with Iyanee' Camp 2022
Kids Camp Video By Texas Tribal Buffalo Project Media Team
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Fascinating locals from 2021: From politicians to pandemic heroes
Article By San Antonio Express News
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After over century, first herd of buffalo return to native lands of Lipan Apache
Article By San Antonio Express News
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Texas Tribal Buffalo Project Treaty Signatory
Article By Buffalo Treaty
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Five Buffalo Returned to Lipan Apache Lands
Article By Native News Online
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TTBP meat, seeds, give away to Lipan Apache & Signing of Buffalo Treaty
Blog by Lucille Contreras
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Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
Article By Emergence
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Texas Tribal Buffalo Project: Timeless Methods, Novel Opportunities
Blog by Soil for Water
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Return of buffalo to Texas’ Lipan Apache tribe symbolizes an era of healing
Article By Texas Standard
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Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference
Speaking Event
Perspectives on Water on the Llano Estacado
Lucille Contreras CEO and Founder of Texas Tribal Bison Project Speaks at The 54th Comparative Literature Symposium “Perspectives on Water on the Llano Estacado”
Podcast Interviews
With Lucille Contreras, Executive Director, Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
Down to Earth Podcast “Lipan Apache: Bringing Back the Buffalo in Texas”
KGNU Hemispheres interview with Winona LaDuke and Lucille Contreras
Hidden F&B Podcast with Lucille Contreras
BBC Sounds “Restoring the Buffalo to the Buffalo Nation”
Native American Calling Podcast “Tribal Bison Restoration”
Healing Generations Podcast “Yelders: Lucille R. Contreras - The Power of the Buffalo”
