The Sustainability of Tribal Buffalo in the Great Plains Region

The research explores the issues of sustainability within tribal buffalo programs. A case study approach was used to compare eighteen different tribal bison management programs throughout reservations in the Northern Great Plains (NGP). Each manager operated a buffalo program for one of the tribes within the NGP. Managers were interviewed to determine management styles, herd history, genetics, and economic importance. The objectives of this study were to compare management styles of tribal buffalo programs throughout the NGP region; determine how culture, population of buffalo, genetics of buffalo, and economics each play a role in the management of tribal buffalo; and to determine how a tribal buffalo program could reach sustainability.

Autorentext

Heather Hatfield-Montoya a obtenu son doctorat en sciences biologiques en 2012 à l'université d'État du Dakota du Sud. Elle a également travaillé avec des buffles et des éleveurs de buffles. Mme Montoya a également travaillé avec de nombreux programmes tribaux et a une expérience de l'enseignement tant au niveau tribal qu'au sein d'établissements d'enseignement supérieur classiques.