A New Denver Tradition: City Donates 14 Bison To Tribal Nations

The city of Denver is hoping to start a new tradition.

On Friday, April 2, Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced it had given 13 American Bison to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma as well as one bison to the Tall Bull Memorial Council in Colorado, reports 9NEWS.

According to DPR, the gift is the first of its kind from the City and County of Denver and is an effort to return wild bison to their native homes. Reintroducing bison will also support conservation efforts on tribal lands.

Previously, DPR has held an annual auction to limit the population and promote genetic diversity in the herds of bison at Genessee Park and Daniels Park, according to 9NEWS.

They will no longer be holding an auction and instead work with tribal partners to select tribes throughout the country that will accept the bison.

“Denver shares a common vision with our tribal partners to return and restore wild bison back to historical habitats and ancestral lands,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. “Bison restoration efforts teach us how to be better stewards of the land, improve prairie landscapes and ecosystems, ensure genetic diversity of the species, and ensure a legacy of cultural understanding.”

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