Gathering Details

Where:

Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
105 S St. Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX

When:

April 13–17, 2026
(Please see the Agenda Overview Below)

What to Expect:

This gathering, in partnership with the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, represents a powerful convergence of place, lineage, and living systems. By bringing together Indigenous leaders, partners, scientists, policy advocates, and relatives to reconnect with buffalo, land, and one another, we aim to move shared work forward. Together, this time offers space not only for strategy, but for remembrance, repair, and renewed relationship that sustain both people and the lands we care for.

Together, we will explore what it means for the spirit of the buffalo to move beyond borders through coordinated actions in science, policy, and narrative change, grounded in Indigenous-led leadership and lived experience.

Gathering Design

To support deeper connection and collective momentum, there is a single registration option, and we ask participants to plan to attend for the full duration of the week.

Rather than centering reports and presentations, this gathering will emphasize strong facilitation, active participation, and collaborative problem-solving. Sessions are designed to be engaging, relational, and action-oriented, with the goal of leaving San Antonio with shared commitments and next steps for buffalo restoration.

We also approach this gathering as a ceremony for the buffalo, a time to call in our boldest visions, honor the land and our relatives, and feel the support of the earth holding us all.

Registration & What’s Included

• Monday Evening Welcome Reception

• Lunches throughout the Gathering

• Coffee and Refreshments

• Field trip and roundtrip transportation to the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project herd in Floresville, located at their recently rematriated 150-acre ranch.

  
  Field Trip Highlights:

  • Tipi Talks

  • Buffalo Harvest
    (The meat from the harvest will be going to the mothers in the Meat for Mamas Program and the San Antonio Health Equity Network.)

  • Registration and transportation for the Floresville field trip are fully included in the Buffalo Beyond Borders registration and are a central part of the gathering, not an optional add-on. Donations to the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project are welcomed and appreciated, and can tickets can be purchased here.
    

Agenda Overview

– We ask participants to plan to attend for the full duration of the week. –

Day 1 (Travel Day) – Monday, April 13

Arrival + Welcome

6pm – 9pm | Drury Plaza Riverwalk

• Welcome Reception at the Hotel

• Food, Art, and Community Connection

Day 2 – Tuesday, April 14

Grounding + Shared Purpose

9am – 5pm | Drury Plaza Riverwalk

• Opening and Welcome

• Why We Are Here & Where We Are Now

• Narrative, Policy and Science Facilitated Sessions

Day 3 – Wednesday, April 15

Field Day Offering at Texas Tribal Buffalo Project

9am – 5pm | Floresville

• Bus Transportation from the Hotel (provided)

• Welcome and Honoring the Land

• Buffalo Harvest with the Health Equity Network

• Tipi Talks and Guided Tours

Day 4 – Thursday, April 16

Building Momentum for the Herd + Closing

9am - 6pm | Drury Plaza Riverwalk

• Facilitated Discussions creating a united purpose and action, challenging borders and barriers of the Buffalo Movement

• Developing Actionable Next Steps

• Closing Ceremony

Day 5 (Optional) – Friday, April 17

Facilitator & Leadership Sessions

9am - 12pm | Drury Plaza Riverwalk

Photo by: Jordan Vonderhaar