Emma Jane

A few years ago, the bison herds of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes were struggling. With dwindling numbers, neglected facilities, and gaps in leadership, the animals once held sacred by the tribes had lost ground in both health and cultural prominence.

Today, with new leadership at the helm, the herds are growing, pastures are being restored, and plans for the future reach well beyond simply keeping the animals alive.

Inheriting a herd at roughly half its ideal size, along with broken fences, and a disorganized operation, Crow citizen Chaz Bends said he had his work cut out for him when he took the position of bison herd manager in April.

“Everything was kind of run down,” Bends said. “But we made a bunch of changes and started getting the ball rolling with different p

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