LAWRENCE, Kan.- Haskell Indian Nations University held its annual bison harvest on Saturday, September 27, at the Haskell powwow grounds. Hosted by the USDA Extension Program, the event welcomed students, staff, and community members to take part in the tradition.
The harvest was made possible through the Osage Nation, who provided the bison. Haskell’s land management team and cultural advisors guided the process in a respectful and ceremonial way, ensuring the bison would provide food for students and future community events.
The event offered hands-on learning for students, connecting them to cultural teachings, food sovereignty, and environmental stewardship.
Monique Mercurio (Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation) shared,
“I went to the harvest because intertribal opportunities are rare outside of a powwow in most places. Haskell offers opportunities that give us the ability to share knowledge and hold space for each other.
Our country is in a turbulent administration. The weekend spent alongside Relatives, nurturing outside community, has been some of the best Medicine we have cultivated as a community this year and I’m grateful to have attended with my son.”
This year’s harvest continued a tradition that honors the relationship between Native communities and the buffalo, while strengthening Haskell’s commitment to cultural preservation.
