TAOS, N.M. — Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland visited New Mexico this week, where he joined leaders from the Taos Pueblo for the release of 10 bison from Yellowstone National Park into their existing herd. During the visit, Assistant Secretary Newland highlighted the significant funding the Department has invested through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to support the restoration of bison populations and grassland ecosystems in Tribal communities.

Through its bison range activities, the Taos Pueblo is reestablishing native grasses through vegetation treatments that reduce the overgrown sagebrush canopy, helping to minimize nutrient and moisture competition. Newland emphasized the importance of this work, stating, "Last year, Secretary Haaland signed S.O. 3410, which is enhancing the Department’s work to restore wild and healthy populations of American bison and the prairie grassland ecosystem through collaboration among Department bureaus and partners such as other federal agencies, states, Tribes, and landowners using the best available science and Indigenous Knowledge."

The transfer of bison was made possible by the InterTribal Buffalo Council, which received $3.5 million to support its herd development and apprenticeship program created by Secretary’s Order 3410. The Council, representing 80 Tribes in 20 states, plays a crucial role in managing over 20,000 buffalo across the country.

American bison, once a population of 60 million in North America, faced near extinction in the 19th century due to uncontrolled hunting and harmful U.S. policies. Assistant Secretary Newland highlighted the historical significance of bison, stating, "Many Indigenous cultures, especially in areas where the species was most abundant, developed strong ties with bison and relied upon them for sustenance, shelter, and cultural and religious practices."

Efforts to restore bison populations have been ongoing since the early 20th century, with collaborative conservation and restoration initiatives leading to an increase in the number of wild bison in the United States from fewer than 500 to more than 15,000. Newland emphasized the importance of continued cooperation with state and Tribal wildlife and livestock managers to ensure the preservation of grassland ecosystems and the species that depend on them.