Theodore Roosevelt and Badlands national parks recently donated bison to the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma/Kurt Repanshek

The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma recently welcomed a herd of bison to its reservation after a four-decade absence. The first herd came from Badlands National Park in South Dakota, and another 10 bison are to be delivered to the tribe from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.  

'œOur tribe is thankful to the InterTribal Buffalo Council, who opted to place some of the excess bison from the Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in our care," said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. "It is a unique opportunity to reunite our people with a prominent part of our past.'

Typically associated with Plains-based tribes, American bison also played a critical role for the Cherokee prior to colonization. Hundreds of years ago, when bison roamed east of the Mississippi, the Cherokee people survived, in part, by relying on bison as a vital food source. Today, there is a nationwide resurgence by tribes, including the Cherokee Nation, to reconnect with these animals.

The InterTribal Buffalo Council, located in Rapid City, South Dakota, awards its member tribes surplus bison from national parks each year. The ITBC had site visits to the Cherokee Nation in May and July to look at land and review plans for the herd. The Cherokee Nation was also awarded a grant from the organization to help provide special fencing and supplies to maintain the animals. 

'œIt will be a special moment when the animals arrive at the Cherokee Nation and one that ITBC is proud to have played a role in. ITBC'™s mission is to restore buffalo to tribal lands, and this is a major accomplishment for the Nation and ITBC to share in,' said Jim Stone, executive director of the ITBC.

The Cherokee Nation'™s natural resources department manages 22,000 acres of tribally owned land in northeastern Oklahoma. The bison will be placed on 1,000 acres in Delaware County.  

'œThe Cherokee Nation had been in contact with the National Bison Association for a number of years, but really gained the traction needed to acquire these special breed of animals in just the past two years,' said Gunter Gulager, natural resources director for Cherokee Nation. 'œThe Cherokee Nation administration and our Tribal Council really came together so that bison can again be an avenue for tourism or source of lean protein in our schools and restaurants.'

The Cherokee Nation is also in the running to receive a small herd of bison from Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone bison are in high demand since they have unique genetics not seen in other herds, and the availability is very rare - only about 300 surplus bison per year. Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. 

The bison is the largest land mammal in North America. Males weigh up to 2,000 pounds and females weigh about 1,000 pounds. Bison are agile and quick, with speeds up to 35 mph; they can also pivot quickly '“ an advantage when fighting predators.