In March of 1992 the Prairie Island Indian Community accepted a male bison bull, 6 years old, from the Lakota Nation of South Dakota. The Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council and Elders of the community supported the establishing of a bison herd on their own tribal lands. The community purchased additional bison cows in 1993. The herd has grown to approximately 170 bison.
The Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC) Buffalo Project is located on 187 acres of tribal lands, with additional acres used for hay. The buffalo are free to roam within the pasture and prairieland along the Mississippi river.
The Buffalo Project supports the Native Mdewakanton Sioux culture, spirituality, and provides community families with highly nutritional meat. The goal of the Buffalo Project is to grow the herd and provide bison meat for community members and their families and for educational purposes. Listen in as Andy and Dave interview Paul Dressen, Education Director, and Nick Westernboy who has been with the project from its start.
