News & Stories
We Brought Buffalo Back Into the Conversation at the 2025 National Food Systems Conference
Buffalo Return Celebrated at Texas Tribal Buffalo Project’s First Open House in Floresville
Where the Buffalo Roam
The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, led by Lipan Apache founder Lucille Contreras, is bringing buffalo back to Southern Plains lands—reviving ecological balance and Indigenous foodways rooted in ancestral kinship. Through regenerative grazing, cultural education, and land rematriation, the project restores a sacred bond between people, buffalo, and the earth.
Land Secured for Texas Tribal Buffalo Project in Historic Bison Range
Thanks to The Conservation Fund, the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project has secured the Carney Family Ranch—150 acres in historic Southern Plains buffalo range—enabling expansion from 9 to 27 bison and deeper cultural reconnection. This land empowers Indigenous-led regenerative agriculture, youth education, buffalo harvest gatherings, and food sovereignty initiatives for Lipan Apache and Southern Plains communities.
Texas Tribal Buffalo Project acquires land in Wilson County
The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, in partnership with The Conservation Fund, has secured the 149.5-acre Carney tract in Wilson County. This strategically acquired parcel deepens their mission to restore buffalo to ancestral lands, fostering cultural resurgence, Indigenous-led regenerative agriculture, and ecological stewardship in historic bison range.
Brown Teaching Grants encourage premier teaching, experiential learning
Rice University’s George R. Brown Teaching Grants awarded $60,000 across 13 faculty-led projects in 2024–25—including funding field trips for Indigenous Environmental Movements students to the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project. The grants enrich undergraduate learning through hands-on science labs, guest lectures, simulations, and site visits that bridge coursework with real-world experiences.
How Charles Bush Is Transforming Texas Education with Indigenous Science and Regenerative Agriculture
Charles Bush, an Oglala Lakota biologist and Regenerative Agriculture Curriculum Developer, is reshaping Texas education by blending Indigenous science, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and regenerative agriculture principles. His innovative K-12 curriculum empowers Indigenous youth and fosters sustainable conservation practices rooted in culture and community.
Rice University: Rice students launch oral history archive to preserve Indigenous Texas stories
Volunteer This Summer with the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project at the Gonzales Farmers Market
Looking to give back this summer? Volunteer with the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project at the Gonzales Farmers Market. Support Indigenous foodways, sell Buffalo meat, and help educate the public about the cultural significance of the Buffalo.
We’re Live: Indigenous Peoples in Texas Oral History Archive
Texas Tribal Buffalo Project Hosts First-Ever Open House on Ancestral Land
Texas Tribal Buffalo Project Becomes First EBT/SNAP-Accessible Indigenous Bison Meat Brand to Earn GO TEXAN Certification
Growing Sovereignty: Newman’s Own Supports Our Floresville Ranch with LED Grow Lights and Tower Garden
Native Nonprofit Day: 3 Campaigns You Can Back Today
In honor of Native Nonprofit Day, the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP) invites you to support three pivotal campaigns advancing Indigenous sovereignty and ecological restoration in Texas. Your involvement can help:
Buffalo Rematriation: Purchase Native-raised bison meat using EBT SNAP benefits, supporting sustainable food systems and cultural reconnection.
Iyane’e House Fund: Contribute to the creation of a cultural hub for buffalo care education, Indigenous foodways, and regenerative agriculture by funding critical structural repairs.
Land Back in Texas: Aid in the reclamation of 150 acres of ancestral land in Floresville, Texas, facilitating buffalo stewardship, land-based education, and community healing.
Your support fosters a regenerative, land-based economy and strengthens Indigenous-led initiatives for a sustainable future.
Erasure Is Not Our Future
In “Erasure Is Not Our Future,” Lucille Contreras, founder of the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, addresses the abrupt termination of AmeriCorps funding, which impacted over half of the organization’s staff. Despite this setback, the project remains steadfast in its mission to rematriate the Southern Plains, restore buffalo populations, and revitalize Indigenous foodways. Contreras emphasizes the community’s resilience and calls for support through donations, purchasing buffalo meat, and volunteering, reaffirming that Indigenous sovereignty and cultural restoration will persevere beyond colonial systems.
Boot Barn: Texas Tribal Buffalo Project: Restoring Sacred Traditions to Find Healing & Strength
The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, founded by Lucille Contreras, is revitalizing Indigenous traditions by reintroducing bison to ancestral lands in Waelder, Texas. This initiative not only restores a keystone species to its native habitat but also fosters cultural reconnection, food sovereignty, and ecological resilience for the Lipan Apache and other Indigenous communities. Through regenerative agriculture and community engagement, the project exemplifies a harmonious relationship between people, animals, and the environment.
The Heart of the Herd: Indigenous Women Leading the Way
In “The Heart of the Herd,” Julysa Sosa captures the profound journey of Indigenous women leading the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project. This initiative not only reintroduces buffalo to ancestral lands but also revitalizes cultural practices, strengthens community bonds, and promotes ecological balance. Through evocative storytelling and imagery, Sosa highlights the resilience and leadership of these women in fostering a harmonious relationship between people, animals, and the environment.
Emergence LLC: Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP), founded by Lucille Contreras, aims to heal intergenerational trauma among the Lipan Apache by restoring the traditional relationship between Indigenous communities and buffalo. In partnership with Emergence LLC, TTBP has refined its messaging and strategic planning to overcome fundraising challenges, particularly those stemming from the Lipan Apache’s lack of federal recognition and designated land base. Through this collaboration, TTBP has expanded its vision to impact tribal nations across southwestern Texas, connecting its mission to global climate change initiatives and regenerative agriculture practices. This strategic approach has garnered increased media attention and support, including Contreras’s recognition by the James Beard Foundation’s Legacy Network Program.
Sustainable Food Center: Indigenous food ways are making their way to the cafeteria.
The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, founded by Lucille Contreras, is revitalizing Indigenous traditions by reintroducing bison to ancestral lands in Waelder, Texas. This initiative not only restores a keystone species to its native habitat but also fosters cultural reconnection, food sovereignty, and ecological resilience for the Lipan Apache and other Indigenous communities. Through regenerative agriculture and community engagement, the project exemplifies a harmonious relationship between people, animals, and the environment.
Texas Architecture Magazine: Concept for the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project Supports Reconciliation and Re-establishment
The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project is redefining conservation and cultural reclamation in Texas. Through a powerful collaboration between Indigenous leadership and emerging designers, this initiative is building a land-based vision centered on Buffalo kinship, rematriation, and healing. Learn how three uniquely designed zones—focused on nourishment, knowledge, and connection—are supporting tribal sovereignty and ecological restoration on Lipan Apache homelands.