Bison were “welcomed home” to the Choctaw Cultural Center prairie on April 10 during an event that included several activities throughout the day.
Dr. Ian Thompson, senior director of Tribal Historic Preservation, spoke of the history of bison. He said bison herds were plentiful throughout the prairies of North America as late as the 18th century. However, as the settlement of the West expanded, by 1800 the bison disappeared in many regions, including southern Oklahoma, due to hunting and loss of natural habitat.
“I’m excited to get to share with you today about this animal, but I’m really excited to celebrate this day with you bringing the bison to the Choctaw Cultural Center,” Thompson said.
He said circumstances forced the bison off tribal land.
“So, when they came back here for the first time in more than 150 years, that’s the time for our grandparents’ great-grandparents,” Thompson said. “So, bringing them back is important culturally. It’s important for the land.”
Thompson said the first question people ask is what is the proper name for them, bison or buffalo.
“The short answer is that it really doesn’t matter as long as we know what each other are talking about but if you want to know from a biological perspective, the animals that we have here are technically bison,” Thompson said, adding that buffalo is a species that lives in Asia or parts of Europe.
The Choctaw word for bison is “Yvnnvsh.”
The bison will graze on 100 acres of natural prairie adjoining the cultural center. A bull and two more heifers, and eventually their calves, will be added later this year, according to the Choctaw Nation.
The initial herd was obtained from an auction of the Oklahoma Bison Association with funds from private donors.
Also, during last Friday’s event, Jared Huebner, director of Prairie Management, Missouri Prairie Foundation, spoke of the importance of tallgrass prairie remnants today. Priscilla Crawford, PhD, Oklahoma Biological Survey, spoke about 2025 research on the Choctaw Cultural Center Prairie, and about the abundance of more than 200 native plant species.
Thompson and Alexandria Szakas, PhD, Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Department of Biological Sciences, led a walk in the prairie at the cultural center, and guided bison tours were provided.
Information booths were available by Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Natural Resources, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Tribal Historic Preservation, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, Okies for Monarchs, Oklahoma Native Plant Society, Prairie Ecology, and WildCare Oklahoma.
The tribe said additional bison-related programming and activities are planned.
