Find your story: Texas Indigenous data sovereignty study
Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP) honors the ancestors of both its people and buffalo relatives through a commitment to stewardship, community well-being, and cultural preservation. TTBP believes in the responsible care of the earth’s natural resources and in raising bison using traditional Indigenous values of sustainability and respect.
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Federal and census data collection practices pose many challenges for understanding Indigenous communities. Progress to address these challenges is slow to non-existent, and independent efforts are needed for a more accurate representation. The purpose of this study was to better understand Indigenous communities in present-day Texas and Northern Mexico to improve programs, services, and overall well-being.
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Help understand Indigenous peoples' connection to the lands known as Texas.
Provide food, health, identity, lifeways, economic, and other data.
Identify new pathways for Indigenous peoples of Texas.
Recommend actionable strategies to increase healthy access to services in Texas.
Develop a longitudinal database of Indigenous people with connections to Texas.
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The results of the project were extensive, analyzed data and a comprehensive report that's publicy available to Native- and Texas-serving organizations to better understand the people they serve and develop programming to help them trive. The study was also used to help Texas Tribal Buffalo Project apply for, and win, an Administration for Native Americans (ANA) grant to start a meat processing facility.
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Oct 2022–Jun 2024
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Jackie Carter — Data collection and analysis, literature review, Spanish translation, and report writing
Michael Brydge — Project supervisor, tool design, client communication, and advisory council development
Julianna Smith — Graphic and layout design, creative direction, and data visualization
“[Sweet Grass'] professionalism, expertise and willingness to find solutions made for an exceptional project.” —Karla Aguilar, Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
