Wild Buffalo Summit 2026

July 20, 2026

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• Bison
• Wildlife

 

Text and photos by Ruiping Luo

Centuries ago, before European settlement divided the Great Plains of America with roads and fences, before much of the grassland was plowed and broken, when most of the prairies were still an untamed wilderness, there were bison.

Also known as buffalo, iinnii, tatanka, and by many other names, bison were central to the life of the Great Plains. They shaped the lands with their migrating, millions-strong herds, were food and shelter and transport for the plants, animals and people sharing their space, and became a part of myths and legends.

We all know how this story goes. As the land was tamed, the bison disappeared. But the story doesn’t end there. Now, slowly and against much resistance, bison are returning.

Their return was the focus of the second Wild Buffalo Summit.

Following the first Wild Buffalo Summit, the second Summit was hosted at the University of Saskatchewan’s Law Building on May 13-14, 2026. As before, the gathering brought together participants from across the prairies and with a range of backgrounds. Alongside representatives from several Indigenous nations were gathered ranchers and producers, government representatives, park and bison herd managers, scientists, artists, lawyers, and other interests.

This year’s summit continued the discussion on bison rematriation. We heard from speakers about the progress that has already been made, about the Buffalo Treaty and the need to continue forming partnerships, and about the growing international interest in bison reintroduction.

Across the plains, bison herds have been growing, and many new herds have been established in the last few years. Still, most herds are relatively small; even the larger herds, such as in Banff National Park or Sturgeon River have only one or two hundred bison. Community herds can be even less, highly restricted by a lack of land. In comparison to the tens of millions of bison that once roamed Turtle Island (North America), or to the 10 million cattle currently found in Canada, bison numbers remain low.

Throughout, discussion centered around Indigenous values and culture, beginning with a pipe ceremony by Indigenous Elders to open the first day and listening to their wisdom as the day progressed. In a separate ceremony on the second day, Cliff Wallis (AWA Director), who has been extensively involved with organizing the summit, was honoured in a Blackfoot naming ceremony.

Beyond emphasizing Indigenous perspectives and the progress on bison reintroduction, the Summit aimed to examine the opportunities for advancing rematriation. There has been a lot of change in the past decades, evident in the successes shared, but also the challenges and mistakes. Participants spoke of patience, of resilience, of not giving up in the face of opposition. They talked about supporting each other, about other gatherings and collaborations where advice is shared, about the struggles against societal biases.

Then, we were asked to envision our future. What would it look like, if buffalo were restored, if their relationships to the prairies were recovered?

Imagine if the large herds came back. Imagine if there were bison roaming once more, not only in isolated regions and behind fences. Imagine if seeing bison were normalized, if they were welcomed and not feared.

This was one proposed future participants considered, a very different reality than the scattered animals we have now. It is not a future that can easily be achieved, and will be impossible without negotiation and compromise. Yet, it is a future we build towards with every new herd, every story told and sacred space defended, and every bison calf born.

At the front of the room was a map, on which colored points were gradually collected. Each point represented either an active project, an opportunity that was expected, or a concern. As the map filled, patterns emerged and were assembled, and gaps were deliberated.

By conferring on moving forward through long-term and more immediate changes, we identified several major themes that should be addressed. Among these themes were legislative change, genetic health, involving youth, balancing profit with cultural and conservation needs, and space or land for bison reintroduction. Building on these themes and determining concrete energy will be vital in continuing this work.

Without question, bison have started to return, and even the small and isolated populations we currently have are transforming the landscape. They are not only revitalizing the ecosystem and culture, but also affecting the perceptions and ideologies common to the prairies. While there is still much work to be done, there is also much to celebrate and to inspire hope.

Perhaps, one day, the sight of bison on the Great Plains will be common enough to not cause a commotion.