Indigenous Led Ecological Restoration Project

Our project explores Indigenous-led ecological restoration through the case of the Blackfoot Nation’s buffalo restoration efforts. We examine how this work reflects broader themes of social geography, cultural revitalization, biodiversity conservation, and theoretical approaches parallel to or stemming from Indigenous research. The ILER project is designed to support Blackfoot-led buffalo restoration by answering core questions using qualitative and geospatial data, led by team of environmental social scientists at Boise State University in partnership with Blackfeet Community College and guided by an advisory board of Blackfoot Elders. Each group member brings a unique lens, ranging from research reciprocity and ethical collaboration with Indigenous communities to governance fragmentation and the intersections of biodiversity and climate policy. Rather than presenting a single argument, our goal is to foster a conversation across disciplines and perspectives. Through this project, we examine how Indigenous-led restoration projects confront the institutional and environmental legacies of colonialism to restore ecologically and culturally significant species like buffalo. Together, we highlight how buffalo restoration offers a powerful model for ecological healing, governance relations, and the future of collaborative research.