We invite you to mark your calendars for the 12th Anniversary of the Buffalo Treaty from Oct. 20-22, 2026, in He Sapa (Black Hills, South Dakota). The 2026 anniversary is hosted by the Oglala Lakota Nation of the Great Sioux Nation and co-hosted with the International Buffalo Relations Institute (IBRI), NDN Collective and Tanka Fund. Visit the Buffalo Treaty website for updates as the event approaches.

What is the Buffalo Treaty?

The Buffalo Treaty is a living agreement that brings together Nations in a shared commitment to the restoration of the buffalo and the renewal of relationships with land, culture, and one another. Each year, the signatories gather to celebrate the work being done and to discuss the path forward.

History of the Buffalo Treaty

On September 25, 2014, The Buffalo: A Treaty of Cooperation, Restoration and Renewal was first signed by eight Indigenous Nations at the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana - the first modern cross-border treaty among First Nations and Tribes.  

This inaugural signing included eight Nations: the Blackfeet Nation, Kainai/Blood Tribe, Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, the Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Indian Reservation, and the Tsuut’ina Nation. Together, these Nations renewed a historic alliance to protect and bring back the buffalo, recognizing its vital role in Indigenous lifeways, economies, and spiritual practices. 

Who Are the Signatories?

List of Signatories

Over the past decade, the Buffalo Treaty has grown from eight founding signatories to a powerful international alliance rooted in relationships — among Nations, with land, and with the buffalo. Its annual gatherings are more than ceremonial—they are moments of shared vision, intergenerational learning, and collective commitment to healing. As more Nations sign on and the work continues to evolve, the Treaty remains a living promise: to restore the buffalo, to restore ourselves, and to protect what is sacred for generations to come. 

If you would like to contribute financially or in-kind to the 12th anniversary, please send us an email at info@buffalorelations.land

Thank you and we look forward to sharing more about the Buffalo Treaty gathering in the upcoming months.

In Relationship,

International Buffalo Relations Institute team