Buffalo (bison) are the heartbeat of our natural world, environment, and shared histories. They have sustained ecosystems and cultures for millennia, serving as teachers, providers, and relatives.
Buffalo is our CEO; we are their helpers. The Buffalo is an integral, living part of our team, not merely an objective, a goal, or an abstract concept. By positioning the Buffalo at the forefront, we embrace a "Nature Positive" lifeway designed to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030. We are proud to be the first organization in the world to grant a non-human species full personhood and a decisive, authoritative role. This decision echoes the monumental 2017 shift in New Zealand, where the Whanganui River was recognized as a living entity known as Te Awa Tupua. For years, we have symbolically held an "empty chair" for the Buffalo to be present; today, we fill that seat with the respect and leadership it deserves.
"I am called by many names in multiple Indigenous languages. Many songs and symbols reflect my spirit. The International Buffalo Relations Institute is the first one to officially recognize my personhood," says our CEO, the Buffalo.
As a living being, the Buffalo sits alongside all relatives, guided by The Buffalo: A Treaty of Cooperation, Restoration and Renewal. This profound pact, embraced by over 50 Nations, thousands of partners, and countless dedicated individuals, serves as a powerful testament to our shared, unwavering commitment to building a thriving, resilient, and Nature-Positive future for all living things.
As the CEO of IBRI, we encourage you, our readers, to take an active role in reconciliation with both peoples and the land. Supporting the implementation of the Buffalo Treaty is not just an organizational goal; it is a personal and collective journey. Think of the Buffalo Treaty as a Rubik’s Cube—a complex yet actionable plan that inspires hope and invites participation in addressing our planetary challenges. Just as every twist of the cube brings us closer to a solution, every individual effort moves us toward shared responsibility for a healthier planet. The Buffalo Treaty is a living example of "quadruple win-win" solutions. It simultaneously fulfills the requirements of the Biodiversity Convention (CBD) and the Climate Accord (UNFCCC), serves as the landscape implementation arm of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and synergizing our actions toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We invite you to join our tipi and stand with the over 50 First Nations and Tribes that have signed the Buffalo Treaty. Join our growing community and stay connected with the latest IBRI projects, Buffalo Treaty news, and upcoming gathering opportunities by subscribing to our newsletter here: [Link to newsletter].
In Relationship,
The Buffalo, CEO of International Buffalo Relations Institute
