Research

Northern Plains Bison Research Collaborative

In collaboration with 1862 and 1994 Tribal Land Grant Colleges, United Tribes Technical College coordinated reservation-based field research under the Northern Plains 1862/1994 Tribal Land Grant College Bison Research Collaborative. The project goal was to enhance the quality of prairie rangeland conditions that will sustain the spiritual and physical well being of Tribal bison herds. Research activities were focused on the habitat and nutrition needs of bison herds in North and South Dakota.

Specific objectives of this research were to:

  1. Assess certain Indian reservation grassland conditions supporting bison cultural ecosystems.
  2. Determine the nutritional needs of bison herds living in free-roaming rangeland environments.
  3. Promote care-taking practices for bison animals consistent with the "Indigenous Homelands" philosophy.
  4. Develop Tribally-controlled research models sensitive to Native American cultural perspectives and economic needs.

Four Tribal colleges collaborated with an 1862 land grant institution to initiate field-based research models for different bison care-taking situations on the Indian reservations of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, and Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe.

Research teams organized at each site were involved with implementing plans for prairie range inventories, collections of animal and plant samples on a regular schedule, and interpretations of forage and animal nutrition analyses.

Participating institutions in the collaborative project included members of the Northern Plains Bison Education and Research Network - Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Fort Totten, ND; Lower Brule Community College, Lower Brule, SD; Sinte Gleska University, Rosebud, SD; and United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck, ND, along with the 1862 land grant partner - South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD.

Because of the growing national interest and expansion of bison herds among Indian Tribes and non-tribal producers alike, the research findings of this project are expected to immediately impact how the development and care-taking practices of bison herds will be shaped in the future.