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Adopt-A-Buffalo

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska became an active member of the Intertribal Bison Cooperative to help restore buffalo to Indian land because of the cultural and spiritual importance that buffalo hole to the Native American traditions. The buffalo have been a source of food, shelter, and clothing and also has taught us the importance of family and is part of many spiritual traditions.  Now it is up to us as Native Americans to ensure that the buffalo continue to be part of not only our lives, but our children’s and each generation to come.

We have a way to help ensure our buffalo prosper by encouraging Tribal members and Non-tribal members to donate to our Adopt-A-Buffalo Program.  There are three categories for yearly donations, which include a picture and certificate:

• $25 for the Yearling Group
• $50 for the Buffalo Herd Group
• $100 for the Head Herd Bull Group

If interested, please contact Larry Wright Sr., Herd Manager, at 402.481.0866 or the Ponca Head Quarters at 402.857.3391.  Between the Adopt-A-Buffalo Program and the Hide Tanning Operation, we are trying to offset the cost to help with the Buffalo Program.  Equipment cost is covered by a grant through the Intertribal Bison Cooperative, which is very beneficial, but we still need support to have a prosperous Buffalo Program.

With the help of the Tribe’s Environmental Protection Department, NRCS, BIA and other Federal Programs we are returning the pastures back to Native Prairie for the health and well being of the Buffalo.  Other tasks that are being completed through the help of these programs are the return of fire to the prairie; the removal of Western Red Cedar that is invasive to these lands, all these activities helps the land and water be healthier and in turn produces healthier buffalo.
 
We have two herds at this time; one herd is located at the Ponca Agency and the other is located southeast of Niobrara.  To ensure we do not overgraze the land we have to control the size of the herds.  The Agency herd should be maintained at 25 head and the East Pen Herd at 35 head.

If you are interested in purchasing a buffalo outright for the many possibilities of its use—i.e. meat, hide, buffalo skull, etc., please feel free to contact me for prices and availability.

Larry Wright Sr.
Herd Manager

Winner of Buffalo Robe

Gary Robinette, Director of the Culture Department, announces that the winner of the 2007 buffalo robe raffle is Ruby Salvatore, New York. Raffle proceeds support the Ponca Buffalo Program.

Overview

HERD

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska has been reintroducing the bison to the native homelands since the Tribe was restored in 1990. With assistance from the Intertribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC), the Ponca Tribe now has a herd of nearly 100 animals in two pastures.  

The buffalos that roam the grassy fields west of the Old Ponca Agency appear to be as content as the Ponca ancestors who lie in the Ponca Cemetery overlooking those same grassy fields. The presence of the buffalo brings a calm to the Old Agency and to the people who visit. They remind all Poncas of days long ago when our ancestors sang and danced in the same land.

Each year the Tribe harvests several buffalo from the herd. It donates a buffalo to the Annual Pow Wow to feed all the people who come to share in dance and song. It also donates a buffalo to each of its service areas for celebrations and for distribution to elders and members alike.

HISTORY

The Bison Project began in 1994 when the ITBC, which assists Native Tribes with buffalo restoration on Indian lands, awarded a $30,000 grant to the Tribe. The grant money was used to install a “bison-tight” fence around the 155 acres adjacent to the historic Ponca Agency Building and powwow grounds in Niobrara. Two years later, the Tribe released eleven buffalo into these rolling hills and lush meadows that once were the center of the Northern Ponca Reservation.

For its second herd, the Tribe purchased an additional 320-acres. The second property includes a one-acre forest that also supports wild turkeys, deer, and other small game. With the help of another ITBC grant, the tribe enclosed approximately two-thirds of this property for bison grazing. By 2002, the two herds consisted of more than 90 buffalo, with 20-25 new calves born each spring.

Additional grant funds have been used for purchasing holding corrals and a squeeze chute, for transporting buffalo from national park reserves, and for veterinary services, an all-terrain vehicle, tractor, and feed. The Tribe also employs a Bison manager to oversee the repair and maintenance, land management, and overall tending of the two herds.

The Ponca Tribe works with the Natural Resources District to manage its buffalo pastures. The NRD has assisted in maintaining three dams located on the Ponca Agency and the second (McManigal) property.

WAH-NI-SA

As was true with most of the Missouri Valley Tribes, the economic base of the Ponca rested upon a combination of hunting, fishing, gathering, and horticulture.  Hunting, being the most exciting of these activities, was accorded the highest prestige in Ponca culture.

From the Ponca village sites, the Tribe would go on Wah-ni-sa (buffalo hunt) up the Missouri River as far as the Rocky Mountains. There were two tribal hunts annually, one in the late spring or early summer, the other in the fall.  These hunts were sacred to the Ponca because they depended upon the buffalo for the winter supply of dried meat.  The Ponca also depended on the bison for clothing, shelter, tools, medicine, spiritual, and religious purposes.

GOALS

Our goal is to continue working with ITBC and to use the bison for education, cultural, and health purposes.  We are also working to develop a comprehensive hide-tanning project which will provide Tribal members with employment,as well as give an outlet for bison hide to ITBC member Tribes.

Contact Information

Larry Wright Sr, Director of Buffalo Programs
P. O. Box 288
Niobrara, Nebraska 68760
402.857.3391