Lucielle Contreras: Bringing Buffalo Back to Texas

0:00It's April 22nd. Welcome in. This is El Paso News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Lucio Contreras, a Leapon Apache woman, is leading the charge to bring Buffalo back to Texas through her Texas Tribal Buffalo project, the first. Native woman led group of its kind here. She's got 30 Buffalo on her ranches in Floresville and Welder, part of the over 8,100 bison now roaming the state. She hosted indigenous folks from around the world at her ranch during the recent Buffalo Beyond Borders, gathering in San Antonio, marking her fourth. Traditional Buffalo harvest with a sacred ceremony to honor their deep ancestral ties. For Contreras, Buffalo aren't just animals. They shaped her people's food, shelter, religion, and even governance. After the great slaughter of the 19th century, nearly erased them from Texas. She spent six years reconnecting with herds in South Dakota before, bringing that bond home. These Buffalo do more than restore culture.

1:02They aerate the soil with every step, waking up native seed banks to make grasses, plants, soil, and everyone healthier. Her nonprofit even hands out free, protein packed bison meat to support pregnant indigenous mothers. Contreras sees this as real life-free matriation, with elder females guiding their herds just like she's guiding her people, paving the way for more Texas. Use descendants to step up as bison caretakers.