The Intertribal Buffalo Council (ITBC) facilitates management of over 20,000 bison amongst 80 Tribes in 20 different States. It recently sponsored six high school Tribal youth for an initiative called the “Red Calf Cohort 2024”. The program began with a Black Hills Camp during the week of June 10-14, 2024.
The outdoor exploration to hands-on learning is designed to increase interest in bison restoration in Indian Country through a natural resource career. Only six youth were selected for a summer of discovery and fun from Tribes in Alaska, California, Montana, and South Dakota. They will continue with two more experiences this year. Incoming Modoc High freshman Thomas Anguiano was one of those six students in the United States selected to dive into an unforgettable Red Calf Cohort Youth Program.
Anguiano, a RISE Youth Advocate Team member, was recognized for his self-discipline, integrity, respect and personal commitment to full attention and steady participation. RISE Executive Director Go Forth had no hesitation in recommending Anguiano to the unique project.
“During one year Thomas presented to the California Tribal Water Summit, Great Basin Anthropologic Association, Bureau of Land Management, California Conference on American Indian Education, and the National Tribal Tobacco Conference. Protecting wildlife, water, soil and plants of our Earth is of particular importance to him. Natural Resource Management is an excellent career for him,” Go Forth stated.
At the Black Hills camp students experienced a variety of buffalo handling facilities, learned the importance of handling bison with low stress, and visited tribally owned buffalo businesses, plants and cultural sites. Red Calf Cohort students will return to ITBC in July for the Yellowstone Camp, and then join the annual ITBC Membership Meeting in November.
ITBC Herd Development Grant Specialist Summer Afraid Of Hawk exclaimed, “These six youth are our future leaders, future herd managers, and future buffalo advocates. We are very proud of these young leaders and look forward to working with them.”
Anguiano has keen interest in a small herd of bison that have been returned to ancestral lands outside his back door on the XL Reservation. In his Pit River language Páw or kujū are the Achumawi Upriver and Downriver dialects for bison. The Red Calf Cohort came as an incredible advanced opportunity for Anguiano’s preparation towards bison management!
Thomas Anguiano (left, back row) with the Red Calf Cohort 2024 team in North Dakota
6/22/24.
Red Calf Cohort at the 777 Bison Ranch on June 12, 2024 for the purpose of observing buffalo behavior. Thomas Anguiano is third from right.
