Return to the Buffalo: Montana’s Blackfeet Nation Restores Bison for Health and Food Sovereignty

The Blackfeet Nation in northern Montana is bringing back the bison (buffalo) to help heal their community and gain control over their food supply. After generations of trauma and relying on unhealthy processed foods, the tribe is facing high rates of diabetes and other illnesses.

For the Blackfeet people, the bison is more than just food—it is central to their cultural identity and way of life.

In 2016, the tribe launched a plan to manage their own agricultural resources. The goal is food sovereignty, which means the community decides what they eat and how it is produced, rooted in Blackfeet values.

The initiative is challenging. Funding cuts, especially from the previous administration, have hurt key programs, causing “historical trauma resurfacing.” However, by focusing on education and economic independence, the Blackfeet Nation is proactively rebuilding a sustainable, buffalo-based future.