More buffaloes would roam America’s tribal lands under Cole’s bill

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) on Nov. 18 introduced the bipartisan Indian Buffalo Management Act of 2019 aimed at growing once-robust buffalo herds on tribal lands.

“It is important that we create this permanent buffalo restoration and management program so that tribes can continue to preserve their cultural, spiritual and survival purposes,” said Rep. Cole, co-chairman of the Congressional Native American Caucus. “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this vital legislation.”

Rep. Cole cosponsored H.R. 5153 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and fellow cosponsor U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) to assist tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo habitat and for the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian lands, according to the congressional record bill summary.

If enacted, H.R. 5153 would establish a program within the U.S. Department of the Interior to assist tribes and tribal organizations with the protection, conservation and fostering of buffalo herds.

“For centuries, buffalo have sustained the livelihood of tribes by providing necessary food, clothing, tools and so much more,” Rep. Cole said. “Before their systematic devastation, millions of these species roamed freely across the Midwest.”

Rep. Haaland, also a co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, said the legislation would ensure “the federal government honors its role in a government-to-government relationship to Native Nations, by creating a program that promotes and develops tribes’ capacity to conserve their buffalo herds and buffalo habitat.”

H.R. 5153 has garnered the support of the 68 tribes in 18 states that are members of the InterTribal Buffalo Council, the National Parks Conservation Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the American Bison Society, the National Bison Association, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund.