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Committee advances bill to make Denver's tribal bison transfer program permanent
Summary
Denver Parks and Recreation told the committee that its tribal bison transfer program — established by a 2021 ordinance with a 2030 sunset — would be made permanent by removing the sunset; presenters described the conservation and cultural work and said about 174 animals have been donated to tribal partners to date.
Shannon Denison, director of Denver Mountain Parks, asked the committee to advance council bill 26 0 4 2 2, which would rescind the ordinance's 2030 sunset and make Denver's program to transfer bison to American Indian tribes and tribal nonprofits a permanent policy.
Denison described the Denver herd as one of the oldest conservation herds in the United States and said the city's program has prioritized returning animals to tribal lands for cultural and ecological reasons. "To date, we've donated and transferred 174 animals," she said, and noted that transfers have been coordinated with the Denver American Indian Commission, the Tall Bull Memorial Council and the Intertribal Buffalo Council. She added that annual transfers vary with herd recruitment and management needs; "This year, it was 34, and that's, among the higher numbers it's been," she said.
Tribal and community speakers described transfers as a form of cultural restoration. A tribal representative who spoke as Louis Tallbull said returning bison is part of healing and traditional practice: "We want to acknowledge this four-legged relative and empower ourselves when we're amongst the bison ... Being closer to the buffalo ... is the only way that our people are going to heal," he said. Another community speaker (introduced in the meeting as Rick Waters) recounted emotional transfer ceremonies and said the animals "loved coming up" to people when released at receiving sites.
Council members praised the program and its partnerships. Several speakers described the transfers as both a commemoration and a form of restitution tied to the city's 2020 land acknowledgment and the 2021 ordinance authorizing transfers. Members asked about selection and placement: Denison said transfers are community-driven and coordinated by DPR in consultation with tribal partners and the Intertribal Buffalo Council; she said staff and tribal partners identify high-need receiving sites and maintain relations with recipient communities.
The committee removed one consent item for additional briefing and then moved both action items (the Pawhuska concessions resolution and the bison transfer bill) forward together; the motion was seconded and the committee advanced the items with no recorded objections. Advancing the bill sends it to full council for further action. If adopted after council review, the ordinance change would eliminate the program's scheduled 2030 sunset and allow Denver to continue annual transfers in coordination with tribal partners.
The record shows broad committee support in the discussion, but committee members also raised resource concerns such as drought and hay availability for grazing animals in future years; Denison and council members said staff will continue to coordinate on resource needs with partner communities.
