Indigenous Partners

Tribal nations and tribal programs managing land, water, and grassland resources across the Temperate Prairies region, including conservation and agricultural stewardship initiatives on tribal lands. 

Tribal Land & Resource Stewardship

Tribal Nations & Programs

Osage Nation (OK) - The Osage Nation Department of Natural Resources and Osage Nation Ranch practice bison restoration, prescribed fire, and conservation grazing on tribal lands, blending traditional ecological knowledge with rangeland science. 

Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (KS) - Manages wetland restoration, a bison/rotational grazing program, and natural resource stewardship on tribal land near Mayetta, KS. 

Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (KS/NE)- Runs a conservation partnership program supporting regenerative agriculture, soil health, and grassland practices on tribal land. 

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska (NE) - Manages tribal land, water, and air quality, and co-manages tribal bison pastures with the local NRD and InterTribal Buffalo Council. 

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (ND/SD) - Reservation Resources Department conducts conservation and rangeland planning across tribal prairie lands, including a community bison herd and co-stewardship of adjacent national grasslands. 

White Earth Nation (MN) - Natural Resources Division manages land across three reservation biomes, including native prairie/grassland restoration and wildlife habitat. 

Educational Institutions

Haskell Indian Nations University (KS) - Tribal university in Lawrence, KS, whose Environmental Science program and students actively restore the Haskell Wetlands and adjacent tallgrass prairie, integrating Indigenous knowledge with ecological research.