Tanka Fund
Tanka Fund is a Native-led nonprofit based in South Dakota. It provides animals, grants, and technical assistance to independent Native American buffalo ranches. Its work honors the cultural and spiritual significance of the Buffalo Nation to Native American communities as well as addresses the challenges in growing economically and environmentally sustainable herds using traditional caretaking methods.
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Tanka Fund plays a vital role in the resurgence of a buffalo economy. As the only organization solely dedicated to supporting individual buffalo caretakers, it is uniquely positioned to facilitate connections across the Native and non-Native buffalo industries to provide educational opportunities and financing to Native ranchers. Our role was to asses the feasibility of individually owned buffalo caretaking operations for community development and eco-cultural revitalization across Indian Country.
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Conduct a market analysis for buffalo product demand.
Identify potential funding sources to support the installation of bison infrastructure.
Track existing and emerging policies related to niche meat producers and processors.
Conduct secondary research on the environmental impacts of regenerative buffalo caretaking operations.
Provide recommendations for supporting a Native American buffalo market.
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The study assessed the market data of potential customers and competitors within a 360-mile radius of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. We helped develop a wholesale and retail strategy, and provided recommendations for a cooperative business structure. Tanka Fund used the results of this study to assist in the purchase of a meat processing facility and Indigenous workforce housing in Rapid City, South Dakota.
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Jan 2021–Dec 2022
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Michael Brydge — Project supervisor, tool design, data collection and analysis, secondary research, financials, economic multiplier effect, and report writing
Mairi Creedon — Data analysis, report writing, and report design
“Working with Sweet Grass was a great investment in time, funding, and energy . . . the thoroughness and completion of the project were great.” —Trudy Ecoffey, Tanka Fund
