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Tribes Tap Bison Herds to Feed Families During Government Shutdown
13 Nov
Summary
- Tribal leaders cull bison herds to provide food for members during SNAP payment delays
- Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes distribute over 12,000 lbs of bison meat
- Tribes across Great Plains rely on restored bison populations to offset federal aid cuts
In November 2025, as the record government shutdown in Washington, D.C. interrupts food aid for millions, tribal leaders on rural reservations across the Great Plains have been turning to their cherished bison herds to help fill the gap.
On the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana, the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes have authorized the killing of 30 bison—around 12,000 pounds of meat—to distribute to their members. This comes after the tribes received only partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments in November due to the shutdown.
Tribes including the Blackfeet, Lower Brule Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, and Crow have taken similar measures, feeding thousands with bison from herds restored over recent decades after the animals were nearly hunted to extinction in the 1800s. These efforts are a testament to the central role bison have played in sustaining Plains tribes for centuries.
With about one-third of Fort Peck's tribal members dependent on monthly benefit checks, the shutdown has hit the community hard. But the tribes anticipated such a crisis years ago, bolstering their bison herds as a safeguard against potential government failures. Now, this foresight is proving invaluable as the tribes work to ensure their members have access to this vital food source.
