Wild Hope for Bison with the Osage Nation

The Osage Nation’s ancestral territory was once as far east as Pennsylvania and as far west as Colorado.  Historically, the Osage people engaged in bison hunts twice each year, with the last documented hunt being in 1881.  Over time, the Osage Nation’s territory was reduced to a mere 1.5 million acres (Osage County) in Oklahoma.  During the time the Osage’s territory was reduced, there was also a significant reduction in bison throughout the United States.  This reduction in bison numbers significantly impacted the way of life for the Osage people for many years.  With the purchase of a 43,000 acre ranch in 2016, the Osage Nation began the work to bring bison back to the Osage people and to our homelands.  With now more than 300 bison, the Osage people are reconnecting to this important keystone species.