The Yakama Nation is building up its little-known buffalo herd – the herd is so off-the-radar many tribal members don’t know it exists.The tribe recently brought buffalo from Yellowstone to Central Washington, with a plan to help Yakama Nation members become more food sovereign.Ī running buffalo herd is a rare site in Washington. We're kind of right in the between area, desert to the alpine country.”
I guess I'm used to seeing buffalo on plains, which we have somewhat dry areas. “The landscape that we're in right now, I don't think it's really buffalo habitat,” he said. Sockzehigh has managed the Yakama Nation’s buffalo herd for the past five years, in this slightly unusual place. Courtesy of Kristi Olney Darwin Sockzehigh administers a vaccine to a buffalo cow at the tribe’s Satus Ranch during last year’s round up.
