Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance is uniquely positioned to connect Native leaders with technical support, to increase access to federal and private funding sources, and to enhance support for healthy grasslands through collective action.

Our Purpose.

A major barrier to protecting Native lands and the resources on which Native people depend is the lack of sustainable financing. Buffalo Nation Grassland Alliance’s (BNGA) purpose is to ensure that the Native Nations in the US portion of Northern Great Plains have the technical and financial resources to plan and act on the vision for their traditional lands and waters, which includes ensuring that: 

  • Grasslands and native wildlife are restored or enhanced

  • Tribal members thrive by sustainably stewarding and connecting with natural resources

  • Fish and game departments have the capacity to deliver conservation impacts at scale

BNGA’s 10 Year Goals:

  • 30% of Tribal land in the Northern Great Plains is under Native-led conservation management (this number may change based on current evaluation of the baseline)

  • Ten paths of connectivity are secured for Native Nations in the Northern Great Plains, supporting culturally and ecologically important wildlife species through Native-led conservation management

  • New, sustainable and natural resource-based enterprises and jobs in Native communities are created

  • Tribal members’ understanding of connections between people and nature are preserved and strengthened, Indigenous lifeways are promoted, and opportunities for tribal members to engage with nature are created

How Will BNGA Get There?:

  • Coordinate regional efforts to build collective action

  • Create long-term, sustainable funding by establishing a conservation trust fund

  • Grow this regional, non-governmental institution that will incentivize integrated nature stewardship, cross-sector innovation, collaboration, and use of best practices

 
 

Native Nations across the Northern Great Plains / Map © WWF-US / Sarah Olimb

*U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. 2003. A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. 2018. Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans