Document Type

Dissertation - University Access Only

Award Date

2012

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department / School

Plant Science

First Advisor

Diane Rickerl

Abstract

Recently some tribal buffalo programs have sold buffalo and discontinued their buffalo programs. The research explores the issues of sustainability within tribal buffalo programs. A case study approach was used to compare eighteen different tribal bison management programs throughout reservations in the Northern Great Plains (NGP) which included the states of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. Each manager operated a buffalo program for one of the tribes within the NGP. Managers were interviewed to determine management styles, herd history, genetics, and economic importance. The objectives of this study were to compare management styles of tribal buffalo programs throughout the NGP region; determine how culture, population of buffalo, genetics of buffalo, and economics each play a role in the management of tribal buffalo; and to determine how a tribal buffalo program could reach sustainability. This project used a holistic, descriptive approach that included interviews and analysis of data to build themes among the eighteen case studies. Each of the interviews focused on comprehensive management issues, including, general practices; natural resource issues; economic concerns and cultural issues related to the tribal buffalo programs. Surveys were sent to the tribal council for each tribe to determine if the goals of the tribe were the same as the buffalo program. This then determined the order of importance of sustainability issues (genetics, culture, or economics). Buffalo management plans within the InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC) office were utilized as supplementary data sources. The results from this study will off er valuable insight into the challenges and successes of a diverse group of tribal buffalo programs and the sustainability of those programs.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

American bison populations -- Great Plains 
American bison -- Great Plains -- Management 
Sustainability

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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