Protecting Bison Is Critical To Native American Ecosystem, Culture

North American Bison were once near extinction, but efforts to bring the species back have been successful in recent years.

Bison were once near extinction. Now, they're coming back.

Sometimes called buffalo, these massive animals were an integral part of Lakota, Shoshone and Arapaho culture — to name just a few.

The North American bison is an important animal for many plains tribes in the United States, and tribes like the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma play a part in that recovery, says Trent Holland, who works for Cherokee Nation's Natural Resources Department.