Texas Tribal Communities Reconnection through the Iyane'e

Our Organization

Texas Tribal Buffalo Project

What is the name of your solution?

Texas Tribal Communities Reconnection through the Iyane'e

Provide a one-line summary of your solution.

Texas Tribal Buffalo Project Using Buffalo and Indigenous knowledge to create opportunities for the Indigenous communities in Texas. With our relatives, the Iyanee', we are creating access to healthy food, resources, and education.

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

The American Bison that once ruled the southern plains and provided Native Americas living in Texas with food, homes, clothing, medicine, tools and many other essentials of living, reached near extinction near the end of the 19th century.  Recently, the Bison have experienced a comeback. For many it is a viable business venture.  We are interested in providing a resurgence once again of a native life, that promotes health and vitality to the land they occupy and to the people who utilize their meat and other valuable products.  Bison are inherently indigenous stewards of the land. We also want to be able to provide a space where Tribal people living on traditional indigenous Texas Tribal lands, a place to RECONNECT with our Buffalo relatives. Physically, Culturally and more.  We are excited to be a part of this comeback and able to provide the bison and products to all native and non-native people in South Texas and other states. These products include frozen meat, hides, skulls and more.   We will also be offering cultural and educational tours to educate people about the bison and the health benefits the meat provides.  As well as offer a formal location for spending time with our IYANEE'/Buffalo Relatives.  Our goal is to offer this traditional food to indigenous cultures that have used this food historically. Texas tribes, for example the Lipan Apache of Texas, have been increasingly reconnected to our traditional homelands.  We are re-establishing our identity in Texas and provide reparations to the Bison.  We will once again become caretakers of our relatives the Bison.  Our families are reconnecting with the land and management of the Bison herds.  This includes the traditional caretakers with living arrangements, such as traditional homelands, which will benefit of the descendants of the people who never left this land.  The people who once roamed as free as the buffalo.  Our Plan to reconnect Texas Indigenous descendants with Land, Spirit, Plants and Animals. 

What is your solution?

Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, exists to establish Food Sovereignty and Reconnect Texas Tribal peoples to the Buffalo.  This honors our ancestors and the ancestors or our relatives the buffalo through: 1) practicing good stewardship of its natural resources in the raising of bison 2) offering quality bison meat and products to enhance people’s health and lives  3) promoting health and wellbeing of our tribe and other surrounding tribes of Texas 4) providing all peoples of Texas, a chance to interact and understand the buffalo and the native peoples of Texas history and culture 5)and learning about soil health and regenerative practices

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

My solution, through the work of the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, directly serves and targets the Indigenous communities in South Central Texas, particularly within Bexar and Gonzales counties. This highly populated area is home to members of various tribes, including the Lipan Apache, Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan, Carrizo, Comecrudo, Karankawa and Tonkawa, and many others.

The intention behind my work and the development of my organization, the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, is rooted in the idea of interconnectedness between Indigenous people, our four-legged relatives (the buffalo), and the land we occupy. Our project of buffalo restoration is our way of cultivating that interconnectedness through the establishment of a culturally-relevant, local food system and taking an active approach towards combating climate change through holistic grazing methods that allow us to reduce our carbon footprint on mother earth. This double-focused lens allows us to address the food scarcity issues relevant to our Indigenous communities today, while also strengthening our local economy and preserving our ancestral homelands for future generations. 

With this symbiotic relationship in mind, my solution provides the Indigenous communities in South Central Texas and the greater San Antonio Community the opportunity to experience the spiritual healing and benefits of our four-legged relatives through the development and provision of a culturally relevant food system and greater, affordable access to the traditional meats of our ancestors. It also provides our community with the opportunity to reconnect with our traditional roots and ancestral teachings.

Additionally, our programs are developed with great emphasis on the youth in our community, but will also serve those of all ages. Youth are the center and future of our community and the success of generations to come rely on the knowledge and experience that they receive today.  It is our mission that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to carry our people for years to come.

Which Indigenous community(s) does your solution benefit? In what ways will your solution benefit this community?

As noted above, our solution will impact members of many tribes, including, but not limited to the Lipan Apache Band, Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation, Alabama Coushatta, Tigua, Kickapoo, Caddo, Comanche, and Tonkawa. 

There is an inherent need within the community to learn about agricultural practices and foodways, as it is predicted that within 50 years, we will have lost most of our agricultural practices and will be that much more dependent on processed foods. The community is in need of and has expressed a desire to learn and continue such traditions that will secure a brighter future not only for them but for our Native American traditions. We will not only work to regenerate the land for Agricultural purposes but also work to regenerate it for people of all ages. Educational opportunities will ensure that food insecurity issues amongst tribal members are collectively addressed. This will allow local food access and nutritional values to all, including low income families. These opportunities will provide community members with the knowledge needed to become self-reliant and well informed of cultural food knowledge, and agricultural practices.  As we proceed in educating the community on the importance of agriculture, we also want to fulfill the increased need and demand for Farmers Markets. Our area does not have many Producers that can provide Bison meat and value-added products.  TTBP is quite beneficial to our community in being able to close that gap and provide a fresh, locally sourced product.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

Our solution is unique in the approaches we are taking by re-establishing food ways that are endangered amongst the traditions of Indigenous communities. We believe that the solution to the obstacles that we and our ancestors have faced, lie within our community. Through reconnecting with our relatives, the Buffalo, we begin to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. By identifying priority areas such as Food, Culture, Language, and Sustainability, we can create programs specific to the needs of our community.

Texas has seen a rapidly increasing population growth.  With this growth comes diversity and changing attitudes towards nutrition, food transparency and sustainability, which is all part of food consumption patterns.  We at TTBP intend to meet these needs, not only for our Indigenous community, but for those within the surrounding area who have little to no access to this particular food source.  We plan to develop our herd program to supply quality food by using natural resources more efficiently and responsibly.  By developing our program around Sustainable ranching, we can address the environmental challenges that are present and meet the demands of a resurging marketable product.

The Buffalo, is an example of how we can learn from the past, act in the present, and build for the future by cultivating leadership amongst our youth to preserve our traditional teachings while strengthening our connection to the land and its many natural resources. Like the Buffalo, our Indigenous communities that were once near the brink of extinction, can once again thrive towards a bright future, by building a strong foundation through regenerative processes and sustainable living. With this approach, we are confident that we can equip our youth with the skills and knowledge needed to carry our people and traditions into the future for years to come. Our program's successes will be directed towards other communities through marketing strategies that will allow us to reach a broader audience.  By being inclusive of other Native American communities within Texas as well as those outside of Texas, we can ensure that we are establishing solidarity with other Tribal partners.  Our programs will serve as a model for these other communities as proof of what can be accomplished when working together towards a common goal.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Drive positive outcomes for Indigenous learners of any age and context through culturally grounded educational opportunities.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Waelder, TX , Southwest

In what country is your solution team headquartered?

• United States

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model that is rolled out in one or more communities

How many people does your solution currently serve?

Currently, through our variety of programs and projects, our organization serves hundreds of people across the nation and lifespan. We anticipate that our impact goes beyond the local Indigenous community and even beyond the greater Indigenous community at large.

Why are you applying to Solve?

I am applying to Solve in hopes of amplifying my skills and learning from my peers for maximum impact. 

As an individual dedicated to invoking change and a leader within the Indigenous Agriculture movement and food systems work, I want to continue to build my leadership skills in a way that is consistent with my ancestral teachings. I want to continue to learn and live my life in a way that embodies these values and teachings and set a good example for other Indigenous peoples and communities, especially Indigenous women. As the life-givers for our people, we have the ability to create opportunities and lifestyles that will directly impact our families and communities positively for generations to come. 

I would like to develop skills to better understand strategy and business planning. I am a visionary leader and always have the end goal in sight, but I would like to build upon the steps in between to better understand the time and effort needed for impact. I also would like to be able to plan for sustainability and not be totally reliant upon grant funding.

Lastly, I would like to spend time with community development leaders and build skills to facilitate discussion surrounding leadership and innovative solutions for Indigenous communities. Each of our communities across Turtle Island are unique and have valuable input to share. I would like to effectively harness this information and apply it within my own community to provoke positive change.

As an Indigenous matriarch, descendant of the original stewards of our land, and elder within my community, I bring a unique perspective to food systems work and the rematriation process. I bring the perspective of a life giver, an organizer, and a leader. I also possess many years of IT experience, which has allowed me to develop an analytical point of view that is instrumental for strategic planning and implementing the processes of the organization.

Lastly, I am applying as a perpetual learner and eager Community Leader, determined to invoke change at a greater level for the benefit of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island. 

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

• Human Capital (e.g. sourcing talent, board development)
• Legal or Regulatory Matters
• Product / Service Distribution (e.g. delivery, logistics, expanding client base)

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Lucille Contreras, Executive Director of TTBP, is native to Texas and an enrolled member of the Lipan Apache Band of Texas and will serve as the team lead for our solution. She has firsthand knowledge of the food access needs of Indigenous communities as she grew up in the area and has spent the majority of her life working in them. She has been working within food systems and food sovereignty work for over a decade. Prior to living out her life goal of starting her own buffalo herd, she gained experience and mentorship from Ed Iron Cloud of the Knife Chief Buffalo Herd in Porcupine, South Dakota, this resparked her vision to return our Buffalo relatives to Texas and reclaim the foodways that once existed amongst our Indigenous ancestors. Since her return, she has been networking with various key players in food system work across Central Texas and has shared her knowledge of Indigenous agriculture through several different seminars and trainings, most recently the Texas Standard public radio station.

Please indicate the tribal affiliation of your Team Lead.

enrolled member of Lipan Apache Band of Texas

How is your Team Lead connected to the community or communities in which your project is based?

Ms. Contreras descends from the Lipan Apache community living in Texas, as well as the extended Texas Indigenous communities, including but not limited to: Wichita Caddo, Comanche Texas Band of Cherokee, Tap Pilam, Coahuiltecan, Carrizo, and Karankua. She holds herself accountable to all Indigenous peoples, especially to the leadership and the elders of each of these groups because essentially, the work that she leads is because of the generations before her and will continue to impact the generations after her.

It is her hope that her presence in the community as a steward of natural food resources and cultural lifeways restoration is and will continue to be a benefit to all Indigenous people across Texas, and Turtle Island, in need of innovative solutions to food insecurity and reconnection to cultural practices.