The Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI) is a Native nonprofit dedicated to land rematriation through buffalo restoration, youth engagement, and food sovereignty for Wind River Indigenous communities. Operating on the Wind River Indian Reservation — a 2.2-million-acre biodiversity hotspot with a strong conservation legacy — WRTBI is leading one of the most significant Indigenous-led wildlife restoration efforts in North America.
The Northern Arapaho buffalo herd, currently comprising 130 animals on approximately 2,000 acres of reacquired Tribal lands, is positioned for major expansion. The next critical step is releasing family groups onto Range Unit 24, a large protected area adjacent to the existing herd habitat. This expansion will connect buffalo habitat corridors, allow herds to split into independent family groups, and ultimately create a migratory corridor stretching from the Reservation to public lands and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The long-term vision includes a Tribal/Federal Co-Management agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to secure sovereign Tribal access across land distinctions.
Ecologically, returning buffalo — a keystone species — reverses landscape degradation, restores native flora and fauna, increases biodiversity, and builds climate resilience. Culturally, the effort revitalizes ancestral relationships with the land, preserves traditional knowledge, and engages youth as future stewards through citizen science programs.
The community benefits are wide-ranging. As the combined Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone herds grow toward a goal of 500 animals, buffalo will re-enter Tribal diets, supporting health outcomes including diabetes management. Ecotourism, cultural tourism, guided experiences, and traditional crafts will generate diverse economic streams for the Reservation. WRTBI’s implementation plan moves through immediate herd release and infrastructure development, ongoing ecological monitoring, and a five-year herd expansion strategy. With Tribal leadership at the center and partners providing technical support, this project is designed to serve as a national model for Indigenous-led habitat connectivity and buffalo restoration across Turtle Island.
