William Firewalker visited the Pine Ridge Reservation. We collected enough money to buy two buffaloes in the name of the club!

Chief Red Cloud signed our certificate!



Our certificate!

Village Earth

Before the great North American buffalo herds were hunted to near extinction 100 years ago, they were an integral part of the Lakota way of life. Not only did they provide a steady source of meat, clothing, shelter and tools, they also held religious significance for the Lakota people.

The Pine Ridge Reservation

30, 000 people live on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The Reservation is a rural community in South Dakota and is one of the poorest area in the United States.

Moving toward sustainable argriculture is the main concern of the Reservation, according to a recent opinion poll conducted by Professor Kathleen Pickering and her students from Colorado State University.

White farmers living outside of the reservation are routinely sold land at cheap prices, while 73 per cent of the Native Americans in Pine Ridge cannot afford to be landowners or to even farm it.

Most reservation residents live in sub-standard, government-owened houses. A full 77 per cent of the population of Pine Ridge would like to live on their own land if they could afford it.

Over 60 per cent of the people in Pine Ridge would like to work on their own land. One quarter of these would breed buffalos on their land if give the opportunity.

Based on the results of this opinion poll, Village Earth came up with an ecologically sound plan for the Lakota to pursue organic farming. Our projects support the extended families, called the Tiyospayes, in order that they might be able to purchase their own land and set up small businesses. The Adopt-a-Buffalo campaign is the first step in the right direction for the Oglala Lakota, enabling them to become more self-sufficient and to provide sustainable agriculture.

Support us in this important effort - so that the Oglala Lakota can regain their old Power!

"The buffalo - Tatanka - and our land remind us Lakota of our great past and our spiritual power. Our history tells us of a time when the buffalo led us from the old world of darkness to the light of the holy He Sapa (Black Hills)" - Henry Red Cloud

Adopt a one-year-old buffalo for 500 Euro.

You can pay for your buffalo in one single payment or in instalments. After the receipt of the 500 Euro, you will receive an adoption certificate with a photo of your buffalo calf and the Lakota name of your buffalo.
Village Earth is a non-profit organization, founded in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1993.

See www.villageearth.org for more information.

Contact in Germany:
Cornelia Bauer
E-mail: cornelia@villageearth.org
phone: 0049 - 8122 - 48361


Contact in the USA:
USA Project Director
David Bartecchi
E-mail: david@villageearth.org
phone: +1 970 - 491 - 8307