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Kónitsää 'Iyání Gokíyaa
"Lipan Apache Buffalo Country"BY Vice-Chairman ROBERT SOTO
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THE BUFFALO FARM IS A REALITY!
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It has been a slow process but the dream of a buffalo farm is finally a reality!
After over two years of blood sweat and tears,
the first of two buffalo, a female, has been
living at the farm for about a year,and she has adjusted well to the corral.
We hope the male buffalo will be joining her soon.
This was an adventure that started
severalyears ago. The vision was to purchase two buffalo as the humble
beginning of what we hope will eventually be a farm with many buffalos. Our first attempt to build a
corral was hindered after five months of cutting and removing what we call Texas thornbrush.
It was summer time so from April to September we worked in 103 degree plus weather.
It did not take long before we wore the brands of the thorns as it is normal to have
scratches all over your arms and legs and anywhere else they scraped. Just as we were
about to finish the brush removal, we found out we could not keep the buffalo on our private farm.
After a couple of more attempts, we finally found the place where the Buffalo Farm is being built.
It was summer time again, and there we went again, working in our hot summer weather.
Because of a couple of injuries and a couple of health issues, the corral took us
one year to build.
The project is not finished. It is a work in progress. We have finished the shelter
to give the buffalo shade in our hot summer months. There is also a storage area
for equipment and hay storage. I have a
little more work to do to fortify what I have done so far on the corral.
The only thing that is lacking is the money and, often, have to use my own.
So as soon as the money comes in, I will get more of the
work done.
I hope to break ground soon
for what will be a natural garden with indigenous plants used by our
Lipan anscestors.
There will also be plenty of room for camping when the farm
is finished. We are preparing a couple of places to put up a tepee or tent for weekend
camping. Eventually we will have primitive
bathroom facilities and a place to take a cold shower. We are also going to put a picnic
table with a barbecue pit.
If you wish to help with this project you can
send donations through the tribe's Donation link:
"DONATE NOW" . Just specify in the comment
section that the donation is for use with the Buffalo Farm.
The land and food are not free so I will continue to raise funds
to pay for the lease of the land and the food for the buffalo.
Due to the safety of the buffalo, if you wish to visit, you must make an appointment.
The buffalo are away from the sight of the road for their personal safety. You can e-mail
me at robtsoto@aol.com or call me at 956-686-6696 to make an appointment for either a visit
or a couple of days of camping.
I am hoping all this will be finished very soon. If you wish to donate for the upkeep and
feed for the buffalo you can do so through the tribe.
Thank you for your prayers and support
over this project. I pray that these will be the first two buffalo of a greater vision as we
learn a little of our history and culture. My dream for the future is to purchase land where
the herd can multiply.
God bless,
Robert Soto,
Vice Chairman of the Lipan Apache Tribe
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