Twelve years after the historic signing of The Buffalo: A Treaty of Cooperation, Renewal and Restoration; First Nations, knowledge holders, Buffalo caretakers and relatives gathered in He Sapa (the Black Hills) to honour a shared commitment: restoring buffalo to the land, our cultures, and our ways of life.
Held October 20-22, 2026, the 12th Anniversary of The Buffalo: A Treaty of Cooperation, Renewal and Restoration was hosted by the Oglala Lakota Nation of the Great Sioux Nation and co-hosted with International Buffalo Relations Institute (IBRI), NDN Collective, and Tanka Fund.
With the theme of Cooperation, more than 350 participants, representing 20 Tribal Nations and First Nations, came together to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and continue the work of our Buffalo relatives returning home.
Gathering in He Sapa
For the first time in its twelve-year history, the annual Buffalo Treaty gathering was held in He Sapa, a place of profound cultural, historical, and spiritual significance to the Lakota people and other Indigenous Nations.
The gathering began at Wind Cave National Park, where relatives heard teachings and creation stories that spoke to the longstanding relationship between Buffalo, the land, and indigenous peoples.
Over the following days, conversations continued at Custer State Park, bringing together different perspectives, experiences and approaches to Buffalo Restoration.
Discussions explored Indigenous food sovereignty, land stewardship, grassland restoration, and the challenges Nations face working to return Buffalo to their traditional territories.
These conversations reinforced an important understanding at the heart of the Buffalo Treaty: restoring Buffalo requires more than returning herds to the landscape. It requires cooperation, access to land, sharing of knowledge, and respect for Indigenous sovereignty.
Renewing Our Commitments
The Gathering concluded on October 22nd with a Buffalo Treaty signing ceremony at Crazy Horse Memorial.
New signatories in 2026, including in Canada Driftpile Cree Nation, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Alexis Nakoda Sioux, Kehewin Cree Nation, Whitebear First Nation and in the USA, Sichangu Lakota Oyate, Flandreau Santee Sioux, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Yankton Dakota Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Cheyenne Sioux Tribe, and the Naclon N’dee Nacion in Mexico.
NDN Collective and Sinte Gleska University, joined the growing agreement, as partners while existing signatories and partners renewed their commitments to Buffalo and one another.
Since its original signing on September 24, 2014, by eight First Nations of the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, the Buffalo Treaty has grown into an international alliance connecting Nations together through shared responsibility to Buffalo.
Each new signature represents a commitment to action, cooperation, renewal, and the continued restoration of relationships that have existed since time immemorial.
Looking Toward the Next Generation
Throughout the gathering, one message remained clear: the future of Buffalo restoration depends on the relationships we build today.
Buffalo have sustained Indigenous Peoples for generations, providing food, shelter, clothing, teachings and a foundation for cultural and spiritual practices. Their near disappearance from the landscape was devastating not only to the environment, but also to the Nations whose lifeways were deeply connected to them.
Today, Indigenous-led restoration efforts in Buffalo country are creating new opportunities to reconnect communities with Buffalo, revitalize cultural knowledge, restore grassland ecosystems, and support food sovereignty.
The Buffalo Treaty continues to provide a foundation for this work, encouraging Nations and partners to share their experiences and support one another through Buffalo Consciousness
The International Buffalo Relations Institute extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Oglala Lakota Nation for welcoming Buffalo Treaty relatives to He Sapa and hosting a significant gathering.
We want to thank our co-hosts, NDN Collective and Tanka Fund, and acknowledge the Elders, knowledge keepers, leadership, Buffalo caretakers, organizers, volunteers, and participants whose contributions made the gathering possible.
We also want to thank the Buffalo for continuing to be a symbol of connection, strength, resiliency and relationships.
As we reflect on twelve years of the Buffalo Treaty, we acknowledge the progress made and recognizethe responsibility that remains.
The relationships strengthened in He Sapa will continue beyond these three days, through the work taking place in our communities, on our lands, and among the Buffalo relatives we are committed to welcoming back home.
Together, we move forward in the spirit of cooperation, renewal and restoration.
