Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: bovine
Practices
- Animal Production: animal protection and health, feed/forage, rangeland/pasture management
- Education and Training: workshop
Summary:
Problem: Loss of Individual Trust Land bases due to flooding of the Missouri River and its tributaries, loss of owner control of Trust Lands, loss of fences due to mismanagement and neglect over the years.
The problems we are addressing in our pilot project are important because:
Buffalo are the only animal/food source that can survive and quite probably flourish in what we have left of our creek bottom. They are the only resource we have which is suitable and adaptable in this environment.
Our project is important to others in our area beause it's an example of what can be accomplished by cooperative efforts.
Objective: Regain control of Trust Lands by individuals, rather than government entities. Replace fences lost by flooding of Taken Area. Utilization of grass/grazing resources below 1620 mark. Re-establish native Bison on Indian Lands.
Project Background
My grandfather was awarded an allotment of 160 acres approximately in the 1930’s. Since his departure from this world in 1944, our allotment has been in various lease programs. We lost 80 acres to the Army Corp of Engineers, in the late 1950’s – 1960’s with the flooding of the Oahe and the construction of the dam near Pierre. Many of those acres were still grazable. They had not been utilized in nearly 50 years.
Our land allotment had been in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Land Lease program for the past 15 years on 5 year lease contracts which paid approximately 175.00 per year, I saw more potential. So I went before the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s Economics Committee and regained control of the 80 acres in the “taken area.” I spoke with Julie Peterson from Corp of Engineers and got their permission as well. The last BIA lease contract expires October 31, 1998. Now, we are free to replace the fences.
Project objectives:
Project goals:
- Re-establish native Bison on native lands.
- Regain control of our lands.
- Do our part to make a difference with welfare reform.
- To reach out to others in our community. To inform them of sustainable agriculture research and education.
- To make a difference for ourselves, and our children’s future.