WEBVTT 00:02.936 --> 00:09.509 align:left position:45% line:89% size:45% ♪ ♪ 00:15.048 --> 00:17.817 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% LITTLE ELK: Our project is called Wolakota. 00:17.817 --> 00:20.220 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% And what that means in our language is 00:20.220 --> 00:22.856 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to live the Lakota way of life. 00:22.856 --> 00:26.459 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% And so this idea that 00:26.459 --> 00:30.497 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% our identity is linked from 00:30.497 --> 00:33.967 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% the health and welfare and well-being of Buffalo and 00:33.967 --> 00:37.704 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% when they're strong, we're going to be strong again as well. 00:43.076 --> 00:46.079 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% This is an opportunity to not dwell on the past, 00:46.079 --> 00:51.551 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% but to acknowledge it and move forward with new vision and 00:51.551 --> 00:56.456 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% with new light into a future that is healthy for our people, 00:56.456 --> 00:59.192 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% for our region, and for the planet. 00:59.793 --> 01:02.662 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% The Rosebud Sioux tribe purchased this land and then 01:02.662 --> 01:05.565 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% put it into trust and brought it back into their territory 01:05.565 --> 01:07.667 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% under their control. 01:07.667 --> 01:11.504 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Our project will create a 28,000-acre regenerative 01:11.504 --> 01:16.109 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% buffalo range that will be home to 1,500 buffalo. 01:16.576 --> 01:19.379 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Previously, you know, in past years it's been a working and 01:19.379 --> 01:21.514 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% operational cattle ranch. 01:21.514 --> 01:26.086 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% We are now in the process of converting it to what will be 01:26.086 --> 01:28.621 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% the largest Native American-owned and 01:28.621 --> 01:31.491 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% managed buffalo range in the world. 01:31.991 --> 01:34.928 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% Our buffalo are going to be coming from a variety of 01:34.928 --> 01:38.098 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% sources and in particular, we're really excited about 01:38.098 --> 01:41.501 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% our partnership with the U.S. Department of Interior, 01:41.501 --> 01:43.503 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% which has what they call 01:43.503 --> 01:46.172 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% a ten-year national Bison management plan, 01:46.172 --> 01:49.242 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% which is the plan and framework for 01:49.242 --> 01:51.578 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% how they manage all of their buffalo across 01:51.578 --> 01:53.480 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% all of their federal lands. 01:53.480 --> 01:56.850 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife animals. 01:57.217 --> 02:00.353 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% MOYNAHAN: This Bison Working group drafted for the 02:00.353 --> 02:02.922 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Secretary of the Interior, the Bison Conservation Initiative 02:02.922 --> 02:05.325 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% that was released in May of this year. 02:05.325 --> 02:11.598 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% Part of that initiative goes to focus on doing something 02:11.598 --> 02:14.334 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% that has been difficult for us to do in the past, and that is 02:14.334 --> 02:17.971 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% to move beyond thinking about species-level management and 02:17.971 --> 02:21.241 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% genetic conservation and to really actively try to link 02:21.241 --> 02:24.677 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% ecological restoration with cultural restoration. 02:24.677 --> 02:28.114 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% And so this project today is really emblematic of that 02:28.114 --> 02:32.085 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% effort to link ecology and culture both within the 02:32.085 --> 02:35.922 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% National Park System but beyond federal lands as well. 02:36.356 --> 02:38.158 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% FROST: Well, we're all about preservation and culture, 02:38.158 --> 02:41.561 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% cultural heritage and natural resource heritage. 02:41.561 --> 02:44.898 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And so bison sort of fits all those categories. 02:44.898 --> 02:47.667 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% I mean, they're extraordinary national resource, they're the 02:47.667 --> 02:52.005 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% national mammal, but they're also very important culturally 02:52.005 --> 02:53.806 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% to Native Americans. 02:53.806 --> 02:57.377 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% And so this project is just perfect for the mission of 02:57.377 --> 02:59.279 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% what the National Park Service is. 02:59.279 --> 03:03.917 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And in addition, enhancing bison conservation across 03:03.917 --> 03:06.886 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% the country and at a landscape scale. 03:07.353 --> 03:10.156 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% LITTLE ELK: This is the first time that a nonfederal entity 03:10.156 --> 03:11.191 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% is a part of that 03:11.191 --> 03:12.792 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% National Bison Management Plan, 03:13.026 --> 03:16.296 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% which means that we'll be able to receive and also exchange 03:16.296 --> 03:20.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% buffalo with all the fish and wildlife herds, 03:20.266 --> 03:22.769 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% with all of the national park herds. 03:22.769 --> 03:27.240 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% The beginning and the start of this herd is coming from 03:27.240 --> 03:29.676 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% the Badlands National Park in South Dakota and 03:29.676 --> 03:33.580 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% the Theodore Roosevelt Park in North Dakota. 03:34.614 --> 03:36.216 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% PFLAUM: Our involvement in this project at 03:36.216 --> 03:41.321 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Badlands National Park was essentially to provide 50 bison 03:41.321 --> 03:45.325 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% for the establishment of this new herd at Rosebud and, 03:45.325 --> 03:49.963 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% you know, the great credit is due to our research, 03:49.963 --> 03:52.765 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% outstanding resources team and field employees 03:52.765 --> 03:56.636 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% at Badlands National Park who not only help, 03:56.636 --> 03:59.539 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% day to day, with managing the second-largest 03:59.539 --> 04:02.842 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% herd of bison in the National Park System, 04:02.842 --> 04:06.646 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% but also on an annual or every two-year basis, 04:06.846 --> 04:12.085 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% capturing bison for distribution of surplus bison. 04:13.086 --> 04:15.655 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% ROSS: Theodore Roosevelt National Park also rounded up 04:15.655 --> 04:20.827 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% 50 bison for this donation to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. 04:20.827 --> 04:25.999 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% And we were in conversations with the Rosebud Sioux tribe, 04:25.999 --> 04:29.068 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% I believe it was the Red Cow group, 04:29.068 --> 04:31.137 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% and Wizipan was describing 04:31.137 --> 04:35.408 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% how the tribe would like to have a bison herd that 04:35.408 --> 04:40.513 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% represented culturally the tribal makeup of people. 04:40.513 --> 04:44.150 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% So having grandfathers, grandmothers, mothers, 04:44.150 --> 04:49.622 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% fathers, younger people, um children in that bison herd 04:49.622 --> 04:52.759 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% was very important from a cultural perspective. 04:53.393 --> 04:55.395 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% MOYNAHAN: This project goes beyond just delivering 04:55.395 --> 04:57.230 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% bison to tribes. 04:57.230 --> 05:01.934 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% This project is really oriented to achieve multiple goals. 05:01.934 --> 05:05.538 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% So ecological restoration and cultural restoration for sure. 05:05.538 --> 05:08.875 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% It also intends to hit marks for economic development, 05:08.875 --> 05:11.978 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% some job creation here on the reservation and 05:11.978 --> 05:15.581 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% food sovereignty for the Rosebud nations. 05:15.782 --> 05:18.418 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% LITTLE ELK: This is an opportunity for us to do 05:18.418 --> 05:22.288 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% what we call the development and implementation of 05:22.288 --> 05:25.558 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% local solutions to global challenges. 05:25.558 --> 05:28.528 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And this is going to be an example not only for other 05:28.528 --> 05:31.664 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% native nations, but really for the rest of the world to look 05:31.664 --> 05:34.967 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% at and say, hey, these guys are doing something pretty 05:34.967 --> 05:38.638 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% cool out in the middle of what we now call South Dakota. 05:38.638 --> 05:42.542 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% We can do that in our area, in our territory as well. 05:48.281 --> 05:49.315 align:left position:47.5% line:89% size:42.5%