Indian Buffalo Management Act Sets 7-Year Clock for Tribal Herd Restoration, Waives Transfer Costs

The newly introduced Indian Buffalo Management Act is a focused piece of legislation aimed at supporting Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations in restoring and managing buffalo herds on their lands. This bill isn’t about creating massive new regulations; it’s about providing a specific, time-limited framework—a seven-year window, to be exact—for the federal government to actively help Tribes bring back the buffalo.

Why Buffalo Matter (Beyond the Steak)

This bill starts by laying out why this is even a federal issue, recognizing the deep historical, cultural, and spiritual connection between buffalo (Bison bison bison) and Indian Tribes. For centuries, the buffalo sustained these communities until the herds were nearly wiped out in the 1800s. The purpose of this Act is to fulfill the government-to-government relationship by promoting the capacity of Tribes to manage these animals and their habitat. Think of it as empowering self-determination through wildlife management.

Specifically, the Act directs the Department of the Interior (DOI) to coordinate with Tribes to build their management capacity, protect and enhance their buffalo populations, and include them in local, national, and even international decision-making processes about buffalo. For a Tribal member, this means the possibility of reintroducing buffalo into their diet for subsistence and rekindling cultural practices, or even using the herds for economic development if the Tribe chooses that path (Sec. 2).

The Nuts and Bolts: Funding and Free Transfers

How does the DOI actually help? Section 4 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with Tribes and Tribal organizations. This is the financial engine of the bill, supporting everything from basic buffalo restoration programs to commercial activities related to buffalo products, and even the use of mobile Tribal meat processing facilities. This flexibility acknowledges that different Tribes will have different goals—some might focus purely on cultural restoration, while others might look at sustainable economic opportunities.

Perhaps the most practical provision for getting herds started is Section 7, which deals with surplus buffalo from federal land. The bill creates a program allowing the Secretary to transfer surplus buffalo from DOI-managed federal lands directly onto Indian land. Crucially, the Secretary may waive all charges for the buffalo, including typical deposits or payments. This means that for a Tribe looking to start a herd, they could potentially receive the animals at little to no cost, removing a major financial barrier to restoration.

The Catch: Experience and the Sunset Clause

While this bill is overwhelmingly aimed at providing benefits, there are a couple of details worth noting. First, the definition of a “Tribal organization” that can access these benefits is specific: it must have “demonstrable experience in restoring buffalo and buffalo habitat on Indian land” (Sec. 3). This requirement, while logical for ensuring successful projects, could potentially create a barrier for smaller or newer Tribal entities that are just starting their restoration efforts.

Second, and most importantly, the entire authority created by this Act has a hard stop. Section 9 includes a sunset provision, meaning the law expires seven years after it is enacted. This puts a clear time limit on the federal support and the transfer program. Tribes need to be prepared to utilize these agreements and transfers within that seven-year window. Furthermore, the bill explicitly states that nothing in the Act diminishes existing federal or state laws regarding diseased or escaped buffalo, meaning that existing regulatory jurisdiction remains in place (Sec. 4).

Finally, Section 8 provides a necessary guarantee: nothing in this Act changes, reduces, or ends any existing treaty rights belonging to an Indian Tribe. This ensures the new management framework doesn't accidentally undermine established agreements, allowing Tribes to pursue restoration while maintaining the full scope of their sovereign rights.