Historic Buffalo Treaty Signed at Crazy Horse Memorial
By: Teddie Rae Herman, SGU Media.
(L-R): Sinte Gleska University (SGU) Bison Project Manager Steve Her Many Horses and Michael Spears, SGU Lakota Studies Instructor, officially signed the Buffalo Treaty on behalf of Sinte Gleska University, cementing SGU’s commitment to regional bison restoration initiatives and cultural education, at the12th annual Buffalo Treaty Gathering.
CUSTER, S.D. - In a historic milestone for Indigenous conservation and tribal sovereignty, the 12th annual Buffalo Treaty Gathering convened in the sacred Black Hills (He Sapa) this week, bringing together tribal leaders, First Nations, and conservation advocates from across North America.
The three-day summit, held from October 20–22, marked the first time the international gathering has taken place in the Black Hills. Co-hosted by the Oglala Lakota Nation, the International Buffalo Relations Institute (IBRI), NDN Collective, and the Tanka Fund, the event focused on advancing wild buffalo restoration, grassland ecology, and tribal food sovereignty. Events were hosted at significant regional sites, including Wind Cave National Park and the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park.
The gathering culminated on Thursday, October 22, with a historic treaty-signing ceremony at the Crazy Horse Memorial. The ceremony welcomed new signatories into a powerful cross-border alliance dedicated to the ecological and cultural return of the buffalo.
Among those signing the historic document were key representatives from Sinte Gleska University (SGU), Steve Her Many Horses, SGU’s Bison Project Manager, and Michael Spears, SGU Lakota Studies Instructor, who officially signed the treaty on behalf of the university, cementing SGU’s commitment to regional bison restoration initiatives and cultural education.
"Bringing the Buffalo Treaty to He Sapa is deeply significant," organizers noted, emphasizing that the buffalo (Pte Oyate) is central to the ecosystem, spiritual traditions, and economic resilience of Indigenous peoples.
First signed in 2014 by eight tribes and First Nations in Montana, the Buffalo Treaty establishes a framework for cooperation in conservation, education, economics, health, and research to rebuild the historical relationship between Native nations and the buffalo.
By including academic institutions like SGU, the next generation of tribal land managers and cultural educators will remain at the forefront of the restoration movement. The event concluded with a community buffalo harvest meal, catered by the Hangry Buffalo of Rapid City, celebrating a shared vision of free-roaming buffalo once again shaping the landscape of the Northern Plains.
MAKING HISTORY IN HE SAPA: Sinte Gleska University (SGU) Bison Project Manager Steve Her Many Horses (left) and SGU Lakota Studies Instructor Michael Spears (right) sign the historic Buffalo Treaty document on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, at the Crazy Horse Memorial in Custer, S.D. The signing took place during the 12th annual Buffalo Treaty Gathering, marking the first time the international Indigenous alliance has convened in the sacred Black Hills to advance wild buffalo restoration and tribal food sovereignty.
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