The story of the Lakota cannot be separated from the buffalo. For generations, they followed these majestic animals across the plains of America, both hunting and revering them.

The Lakota believe that the buffalo, or tatanka, is a gift of the Great Spirit and the ultimate symbol of self-sacrifice: It gives its life to the Lakota in order to feed and provide for them. Its death allows others to live, like a circle of life.

The Lakota made sure to cherish this gift by using every part of the animal—meat was eaten, hair and hides were used for clothes and tipis, sinews became bowstrings, and the tail made for a great flyswatter or brush. Even the bones were used. They could be made into toys and tools, and the skull was a sacred symbol often used in prayer.

As settlers moved west and built railroads, they killed the buffalo, nearly wiping them out to extinction. Meanwhile, the Lakota were forced onto reservations that didn't allow them to follow the buffalo herds. Their sacred animals were gone, and their sacred circle broken.

Today, we have an opportunity to mend that sacred circle while supporting Lakotan food sovereignty and economic development.

Buffalo are returning, but many are being sold off to thin their herds before the worst of winter. These animals typically end up leaving the reservation, but the Charging Buffalo Meathouse can help keep them on the Pine Ridge Reservation. With your help, we can purchase the animals, expand and feed our herd, and create food and jobs for the Lakota. They can then feed the Lakota people for months to come.

In addition to buying the animals for about $1,800 per buffalo, we need to purchase feed for them until spring, when they can chase the green grass. We also need to purchase some fence supplies to handle the larger herd. In all, we expect to need $160,000 to purchase and care for 80 buffalo.

Please join us in returning the buffalo to the Lakota.

The buffalo and the Lakota offer us many lessons in survival, resilience, selflessness, and sacrifice. Your donation to Lakotan beliefs, traditions, and food and economic sovereignty mirrors these lessons. It ensures that the great symbol of life, sustenance, and self-sacrifice continues its tradition on Lakota land.

Please click here to make your gift today and help restore the sacred circle.