The Beginning of the Next Generation
Calving season is underway, marking one of the most important times of year for Buffalo herds. From late April through June, new life arrives in rhythm with the land — timed to fresh grass growth and milder conditions that give calves their best chance to thrive.
It’s a season shaped by instinct and survival, where cows stay close, protect their young, and the herd moves together to ensure the next generation holds strong.
This moment in biology reflects a system that has worked for generations — one built on balance, timing, and collective strength. As calves start showing up and herds grow, it’s a visible reminder of what restoration looks like in real time: not just numbers increasing, but life returning in a way that sustains both the land and the people connected to it.
Our Rancher Partners: Ed Iron Cloud III
For generations, Buffalo sustained the Oglala Lakota — and that relationship is still active today.
On the Pine Ridge Reservation, Edward Iron Cloud III of Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Society continues that work, caring for Buffalo as relatives, teachers, and providers. Through intergenerational teachings, ceremony, and intentional harvest, the connection between Buffalo and community remains strong.
“I consider myself a caretaker. We aren’t taking care of them — they are taking care of us.”
Award Spotlight: Regenerative Agriculture Foundation
Brett Ramey of the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation said it plainly: the community component isn’t a feature of the work — it’s the point.
That perspective sits at the core of what Tanka Fund has built on the Pine Ridge Reservation and beyond, and it’s what drew us to RAF’s Restorying Regenerative Agriculture program as a fourth-round partner.
This story follows that partnership from its roots to the relationships it’s built, and what’s ahead for Buffalo restoration and Native producers. It’s about land, but more than that, it’s about the people who have always carried responsibility for it.
Tanka on the Move
From recent events to what’s coming up next, we’ve been staying active and connected in the work. Here’s a quick look.
Native Americans in Philanthropy
Our team attended the Native Americans in Philanthropy Annual Conference in Riverside, California, April 14–16 — a gathering of leaders across philanthropy, Native advocacy, and Tribal sovereignty.
The experience reinforced something simple: this work doesn’t have to happen in silos. We showed up to strengthen partnerships, deepen support, and learn alongside others committed to moving Native communities forward.
Health and Environmental Funders Network
The Tanka Fund team — alongside rancher partners Alex Romero-Frederick, Wayne Frederick, Virgil Two Eagle Sr., and partner Chad Kremer of Kremer Buffalo — recently attended and spoke at the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) Annual Meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota.
HEFN is a philanthropy-serving organization focused on advancing environmental health and justice by connecting funders, strengthening collaboration, and accelerating solutions for communities most impacted.
Fifth Annual Poultry Convergence
The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance hosted its Fifth Annual Poultry Convergence on April 24–25 in Northfield, Minnesota. The event brings together stakeholders from across the ecosystem to connect and continue strengthening the poultry-centered regenerative agroforestry movement.
Our Executive Director Dawn Sherman and Board Member Nick Hernandez, CEO and founder of Makoce Agriculture Development, sit on the Board of Directors for the organization, furthering our culture of partnerships across agricultural sectors.
Bison 250 Honors Nation’s Animal
Tanka Fund will join Tribal leaders, producers, and national partners in Washington, D.C., for the Bison 250 Executive Branch Outreach — part of a broader national reflection marking 250 years of the United States. However, our focus remains exclusively centered on Buffalo, the United States' national mammal.
Throughout the week, we’ll engage with federal partners at the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to advance priorities around grazing access, Tribal land use, processing, herd health, and long-term restoration efforts.
This work goes beyond policy. It’s about continuing the return of Buffalo to Native lands and strengthening the systems that support them — now and for generations to come.
Tanka Fund Connects at SDCF
Our Operations Manager Rachel Hunter recently attended the South Dakota Community Foundation Grantee Convening on April 21 at the Drifters Event Center in Pierre, South Dakota. Tanka Fund is a recipient of the Federal Funding Gap $20,000 grant.
Attendees received information about resources available to nonprofits, including upcoming trainings and grants.
According to SDCF, the event welcomed 60 nonprofit leaders to Pierre to celebrate 2025 grant recipients representing organizations from across South Dakota — from the Glacial Lakes to the Black Hills. The organization described it as an opportunity to “celebrate them, amplify their impact, and remind them that they don't walk this road alone.”
The foundation and attendees explored innovative solutions to complex challenges facing local communities and recognized the Bush Prize: South Dakota honorees — leaders whose work is making a real impact across the state.
Technical Service Spotlight: Ranching During Drought
As much as spring is seen as a time of abundance, especially with calves, drought conditions across parts of South Dakota are slowing grass growth, leaving many ranchers with less forage than expected coming out of winter.
That shortage forces hard decisions about whether to purchase additional feed like hay or reduce herd sizes. Many are choosing to invest in feeding their herds rather than sell or harvest.
There are tools and resources available to help ranchers navigate these challenges, from platforms that estimate forage capacity to programs offering financial support during drought conditions. As these conditions continue, access to information and assistance remains critical to sustaining both the land and the herds that depend on it.
Tanka Trivia
Last Question:
What’s the hump on a Buffalo used for?
Answer: It’s dense shoulder muscle built to support their massive head, helping Buffalo power through snow up to four feet deep. It also signals strength and dominance.
This Month’s Question:
Can Buffalo swim?
Think you know?
Email your answer to marketing@tankafund.org for a chance to win exclusive Tanka Fund merch.
🦬 Good luck, and thank you for supporting Buffalo restoration!
