The Importance of Returning the Tatanka to Oceti Sakowin

For the Oceti Sakowin — the Seven Council Fires of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people — the return of the Tatanka (buffalo) is far more than ecological restoration. It is a cultural, spiritual, and economic revival. Restoring the buffalo is the healing of a broken relationship, the renewal of a covenant, and the resurgence of a way of life rooted in balance with the land.

The Sacred Relationship Between the People and the Tatanka

For centuries, Tatanka was at the center of Oceti Sakowin life. The buffalo provided food, shelter, clothing, tools, and medicine. Beyond material needs, Tatanka carried profound spiritual significance, symbolizing strength, resilience, and unity. Oral traditions remind us that Tatanka was not simply an animal but a relative, one who sustained the people and taught lessons of generosity and survival.

The Slaughter of the Buffalo: A War on the Lakota

In the 19th century, settlers and the U.S. government launched a campaign of extermination against the buffalo. The Lakota estimate that 200 million Tatanka were wiped out from the North American continent.

This slaughter was not accidental — it was strategic. Hunters killed buffalo by the thousands, often leaving carcasses to rot. Military leaders encouraged it, knowing that the quickest way to break the spirit and resistance of the Oceti Sakowin and other Plains Nations was to destroy their primary food source. The extermination of Tatanka was an act of war, designed to force the people into dependency on rations and into the reservation system.

Where once the plains thundered with herds stretching to the horizon, silence fell. The loss of Tatanka was not only ecological devastation — it was cultural genocide, aimed at severing the bond between the people and their sacred relative.

The Great Race, Wind Cave, and the Magpie

Lakota teachings remind us of the Great Race between the two-legged and the four-legged nations. In this race, the fate of the people was decided: whether human beings would eat the buffalo, or the buffalo would eat the people. The Magpie played a crucial role, flying ahead to help the two-legged win. Because of this sacrifice, the Magpie holds a place of honor — reminding us that our survival is not ours alone, but a gift carried by all of creation.

These stories are tied to our very origins. The Lakota emerged from Wind Cave in the Black Hills, guided into this world to live in balance with all relatives. From the beginning, our lives were tied to Tatanka. The Great Race taught us humility, gratitude, and responsibility: that we would depend on the buffalo for survival, but that this relationship must always be one of respect, never exploitation.

The Bison Economy and Food Sovereignty

Restoring Tatanka is not just about cultural survival — it is about reclaiming sovereignty over our food systems. For too long, Indigenous nations have been forced into dependency on outside supply chains that bring unhealthy, processed foods into our communities. To be sovereign, we must be able to feed ourselves with our own food sources.

The return of Tatanka can generate what some call the “Bison Economy,” with potential to create millions in revenue through meat sales and spin-off industries like hides, tourism, and ecological restoration. But the foundation of this vision must be food sovereignty.

Tatanka should never be reduced to livestock. They are sacred relatives — beings who gave themselves so our people might live. Their first role is to feed our own families, our elders, and our children. Only once our communities are nourished and strong should surplus buffalo meat move outward into markets. The buffalo’s gift is first and foremost to us — the Oceti Sakowin.

Peta Omniciye, Inc. and the Push for a Large-Scale Return

Peta Omniciye, Inc. is leading the charge to bring Tatanka back on a large scale to every Lakota territory (reservation). Their vision is bold and rooted in sovereignty: herds thriving across Oceti Sakowin lands, creating food security, cultural renewal, and long-term economic strength.

This initiative represents one of the most significant Indigenous-led restoration projects of our time. It is not about turning buffalo into another commodity — it is about returning to balance, reclaiming identity, and creating systems where our people thrive first.

Ecological and Cultural Restoration

Buffalo are keystone species. Their grazing patterns regenerate prairies, enrich soils, and support biodiversity. The ecological benefits of restoration go hand-in-hand with cultural renewal. Buffalo herds allow us to teach youth Lakota language, traditional practices, and values of respect and generosity.

The bison is not only a sacred relative to the Oceti Sakowin, but also a caretaker of the land. As they move across the prairie, their hooves aerate the soil, pressing seeds deep into the earth and allowing new grasses to grow. Their grazing patterns prevent any single plant from dominating, creating rich diversity and healthier ecosystems. Even their wallows — the shallow depressions they roll in — collect water and become micro-habitats for plants, insects, and birds. Unlike cattle, who often overgraze and damage the land, Tatanka regenerates the prairie, ensuring that the grasslands remain vibrant and abundant for generations to come.

The restoration of Tatanka, guided by Indigenous teachings — from the Great Race, to Wind Cave, to the honored Magpie — shows the world that ecological stewardship, food sovereignty, and cultural resurgence are inseparable.

Sovereignty and Self-Determination

Returning Tatanka is inseparable from the struggle for sovereignty. When the Oceti Sakowin manage buffalo herds, we affirm our right to steward land and resources according to our values. Every calf born on our lands is a step toward independence — food on our tables, dignity for our families, and hope for the next generations.

A Call to Action

The story of Tatanka and the Oceti Sakowin is not just Indigenous history — it is a vision for the future. Supporting initiatives like Peta Omniciye’s large-scale bison restoration means supporting food sovereignty, Indigenous leadership, and the renewal of a sacred relationship.

As the herds return, so too does a vision of balance, strength, and prosperity — one where our people are fed first, where Tatanka are honored as relatives, and where true sovereignty is restored.