Beloved Buffalo: Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation Finds the Balance Between Land, Bison, and Man

By NRCS Montana

Encompassing approximately 15,244 acres, the new Northern Cheyenne Buffalo Pasture has taken shape over the last few years in Lame Deer, Montana. Brandon Small, a Northern Cheyenne tribal member and the new manager of the Northern Cheyenne Bison Ranch went on to explain, “The tribe, they want to maintain a buffalo herd. It’s an important part of, as a Plains tribe, their cultural identity.”

However, the 215 head of free roaming wild buffalo were creating high maintenance costs and hard feelings for individual ranchers that were dealing with the impacts of these large, ox-like shaggy-haired mammals. Rangeland health was also suffering from overuse by a combination of cattle, bison, and feral horses.

Cohabitation between the buffalo and the ranchers was key in the planning of practices and what would be best for the land, the buffalo, and the people. By working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other partnerships, the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation land managers are consistently resolving issues they face on the ranch.

“This is home for me, and I love helping local people utilize NRCS programs to accomplish their conservation goal,” stated Kathy Knobloch, NRCS Tribal Conservationist. For 28 years, Knobloch has worked for NRCS in Lame Deer, Montana, her hometown, and works closely with Northern Cheyenne tribal members. Knobloch has played a vital role in building the relationship between NRCS and the Northern Cheyenne nation, who have been working to improve the Tongue River Watershed since 1994 with various practices and technical advice.

Fencing is one of the practices that was implemented with the assistance of NRCS. The fences needed to be designed well enough and built strong enough so a giant buffalo would not be able to tear down or break through it. It was a situation that Knobloch and fellow NRCS staff had to reevaluate, as the specifications would be different than for a cattle fence.

Small explained, “The fence is a big deal and it’s holding the buffalo and that is a big deal, too, because, you know, these buffalo have never lived in confinement of any kind. They were a free roaming wild herd. And so, nobody really knew what they were going to do when those gates closed.” The fencing and confinement have been a success and is allowing the tribe to manage where the buffalo are and how they are using the land, ensuring they are not overgrazing.

An array of practices are being implemented by the tribe with NRCS assistance, including, livestock pipeline, watering facilities, aquifer flow tests, ground water testing, and a solar pumping plant. One water system has already been completed and provided “A reliable, frost free supply of water last winter,” Knobloch stated. Currently, a stock water pipeline is in the works.

Engineering played a key role in exploring an efficient water system for the bison ranch. NRCS Civil Engineering Technician Ty Morin, assisted in the specifications for the watering facilities and livestock pipeline installation. The NRCS staff worked diligently on the project and found ways to utilize their resources and engineering magic. Morin excitedly stated, “Because [of] the brilliance of our staff, we were able to save all this time.” Through hard work and dedication, they were able to proceed with installation in a timely manner.

Out on the bison ranch, Knobloch looked around and proceeded to describe several projects that were started or completed recently. Speaking highly of what Small has accomplished within his short time as the buffalo manager, Knobloch said, “If you look around at this infrastructure that’s here, all the solar panels, everything, nothing that you see here [was here] 16 months ago when Brandon started. I mean, the pace of change over that time has been pretty phenomenal.”

Diving into his new position, Small had to pick up in the middle of a few different projects, some that started long before he was the buffalo pasture manager, a position that has been vacant for the past few years. Working with NRCS, he was able to smoothly transition into his role, “they have been great. I mean they’ve been so helpful. I can call them anytime,” Small said.

Brandon Small and the Northern Cheyenne tribe are looking forward to expanding and completing more practices to improve their land, including secondary storage tanks, and improvements on the pipeline. Expanding on what they have started, the future of the Northern Cheyenne Bison Ranch is a bright one. “My kids are getting older, and I just wanted to leave this reservation, this land better than when I had it. And so, they can have it, and their kids can have it, and it’s going to be great for them,” Small stated with a smile.

 

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