The Indigenous Prairie Bison Initiative (IPBI) is a 3-year (2025–2028), scalable $5-million initiative that supports the restoration of bison as an economic, environmental, and cultural asset for Indigenous communities across the Prairies.
The initiative is jointly funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Indigenous Services Canada through the Strategic Partnerships Initiative.
What this initiative offers
The initiative includes 2 main components:
- Capacity building to strengthen Indigenous participation in the bison sector
- A regional learning herd network to share knowledge, build skills, and support collaboration among communities
Objective
The initiative supports the conditions for long-term, Indigenous-led bison stewardship, conservation, and economic development across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Eligibility
The initiative is open to all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities located in the Prairie provinces that are interested in:
- bison ranching
- bison conservation
- incorporating bison into their local food systems
How funds will be distributed
The initiative does not have an application intake. Over the coming months, AAFC and the National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture and Food will reach out directly to Indigenous communities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to share information about the initiative and extend an invitation to participate in future learning and development opportunities.
Communities that wish to participate will be contacted to help identify:
- local priorities
- existing herd activities
- potential areas for collaboration
The information collected through this engagement will help map existing herds, identify community needs, and guide how resources can be used most effectively across the Prairies.
Contact information
For questions related to the Indigenous Prairie Bison Initiative, please email aafc.ipbi-iabp.aac@agr.gc.ca.
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