Springtime has brought several new residents to the Cherokee Nation.
Six months ago, the Intertribal Buffalo Council brought 50 bison to Oklahoma from North and South Dakota. Cherokee Principal Chief Bill John Baker said they’re doing very well.
"They've got nine calves on the ground right now, and it is quite a sight to see," Baker said.
The calves were all born this month. The herd has been very popular so far.
"Everybody that I've talked to is just tickled that we've been able to bring the bison to our tribal trust lands," Baker said. "We're adding fence now to add a couple of hundred extra acres to it to give them plenty of room to roam."
Six months ago, the tribe received 38 female and 12 male bison. Baker was able to see a newborn in person.
"For me, it was once in a lifetime, but it's going to be something that all of our kids and grandkids and great-grandkids can watch and see and enjoy," Baker said.
The bison arrived through a program that takes extra bison from national parks and places them with tribes throughout the U.S.
