"When the Northern Arapaho General Council voted in 2009 against moving bison from Yellowstone National Park to the Wind River Indian Reservation, the reaction among many observers was puzzlement.

Why would a Great Plains tribe that historically relied upon the buffalo turn down an opportunity to bring some of the genetically pure, disease-free animals to its home in west-central Wyoming?

Star-Tribune business editor Tom Mast set about to answer that question earlier this year. He learned that there wasn't a simple explanation. But he did find a fascinating story worth telling, and he did so in "The long circle," a special report in Sunday's Star-Tribune.

The bottom line is that despite the Northern Arapahos' rejection of the Yellowstone bison transplant plan, there's a great desire among members to restore the tribe's historic link to the buffalo. In fact, the General Council in October voted overwhelmingly to allow buffalo on Arapaho range and directed the tribe's Business Council to find a proper home for them.

To some tribal elders and other leaders, regaining the Northern Arapahos' link to the bison is one way to address the tribe's serious social problems, including substance abuse, low high school graduation rates and crime. While bringing buffalo to the Wind River reservation won't solve those problems, we commend tribal leaders' initiative and wish them the best in their efforts to heal through a return to tradition and heritage."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribe can benefit from return of bison (The Casper Star-Tribune 12/2)

Also Today:
Northern Arapaho seek to restore historic link to buffalo (The Casper Star-Tribune 11/28)
Other tribes restore buffalo ties (The Casper Star-Tribune 11/28)