The Off-Grid Buffalo Project brings renewable energy, food sovereignty, and cultural resilience to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe
On the land where the plains meet plateaus near Ashland, Montana, where more than 300 buffalo move freely across 15,000 acres of Northern Cheyenne land, a new kind of power is taking root. One that honors ancestral tradition while embracing modern technology.
The Off-Grid Buffalo Project, led by Indigenized Energy, is a transformative clean energy initiative that brings together cultural preservation, food and energy sovereignty, and community-led climate solutions in one landmark effort.
“This project isn’t just about power, it’s about sovereignty,” said Brandon Small, Buffalo Manager for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. “By running the buffalo facility off-grid, we’re proving that our Nation can meet modern needs while honoring the ways of our ancestors.”
Officially installed at the end of July 2025, the 36-kilowatt off-grid solar system, paired with 58 kilowatt-hours of battery storage, now powers a hydraulic buffalo chute, operations building, and key ranch infrastructure. But this project is about far more than panels and batteries, it’s a vision realized, built on Indigenous knowledge, tribal leadership, and nearly two years of determination and collaboration.
The path to this moment was long, and often muddy. From the outset, the project demanded more than technical expertise. Teams navigated relentless weather, logistical nightmares, and one central question: how do you move massive solar components across unpaved roads into one of the most remote corners of Montana?
At one point, rain turned the only access road into thick rivers of mud, stopping deliveries and trapping equipment for days. Crews laughed at the sudden change in the landscape, one saying, “there wasn’t a river there yesterday.” Small had to bring in extra machinery and basically build new roads just to get equipment through. Even with wide open land around, the flatbeds were forced into ridiculous turns to stay on solid ground, and at one point the crew cut through a fence to get through, then went back and repaired it later. Some of the team camped on-site, others drove hours back and forth every day, everyone determined to keep moving forward.
More than a dozen workers and trainees, including tribal members and solar professionals, poured their labor into making the installation a reality. “It took a lot of hands and a lot of heart to make this happen,” Small said. “From our Tribal crew to the partners who stood beside us, everyone put in the hard work to bring this vision to life.”
And then there were the buffalo, wandering into view during construction, grounding the moment with quiet power. More than once, work stopped just to watch them, snap a picture and to remind us what we were doing this for.
“This isn’t just about electricity, it’s about power in every sense of the word,” said Cody Two Bears, CEO of Indigenized Energy. “Power to manage your land, feed your community, and decide your own future. That’s what energy sovereignty looks like.”
For the Northern Cheyenne, the buffalo are not just livestock. They are sacred relatives, living symbols of strength, survival, and interconnection with the land. The herd at the Northern Cheyenne Buffalo Ranch is central to the tribe’s food sovereignty program, providing meat to local families while supporting ecosystem restoration.
In this remote area, an off-grid solar system offers a practical solution. It operates independently from the public electricity grid, using photovoltaic panels to generate power, batteries to store it, and inverters to deliver electricity where needed. But it also represents something far deeper: local control, environmental sustainability, and Indigenous resilience.
The system allows the tribe to manage the herd more sustainably, powering safe animal handling, seasonal movement, and meat processing without the pollution or cost of diesel generators or new grid connections. In short, it’s a climate solution rooted in traditional values.
While the solar array meets operational needs, the project’s true goal is sovereignty, not just over energy, but food, economy, and cultural future. With the herd moving toward full self-sufficiency, meat from seasonal harvests will continue being distributed to community members, and the land will be managed using long-standing practices.
Partners from across the clean energy and philanthropic sectors helped bring the project to life. Indigenized Energy led development and coordination, with Freedom Forever serving as the project contractor, equipment and training from Jinko Solar, and major funding from the Honnold Foundation and Empowered by Light. Training opportunities were built into the installation process, giving local workers hands-on experience and expanding renewable energy skills within the tribe.
“It was important to do the work first and earn trust, because too many tribes have been promised projects that never came. For us, that means more than installing solar panels; it’s about building skills, creating opportunities, and helping communities thrive on their own terms,” said Brian Eglsaer, COO of Freedom Forever.
The project did just that. Two of the solar installers were Northern Cheyenne tribal members who are now full-time Freedom Forever employees, underscoring the company’s commitment to creating lasting opportunities within the community.
“The Off-Grid Buffalo Project aligns closely with the Honnold Foundation’s mission, partnering with communities to expand equitable solar energy access through relationships built on trust, respect, and shared vision.” Says Emily Teitsworth the Executive Director for Honnold. “For the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, this system isn’t just about powering equipment, it’s about preserving a buffalo herd that feeds families, strengthening food sovereignty, and reducing environmental impact. We’re proud to work alongside Indigenized Energy to show that clean, affordable energy can uplift communities, protect cultural heritage, and create a model for equitable climate resilience.”
“We are thrilled to support this collaborative effort, which provides an incredible opportunity for the Northern Cheyenne to reestablish their sovereignty, improve the health of their tribe, and strengthen their connection to a culturally iconic species,” said Moira Hanes, Executive Director & Co-founder of Empowered by Light.
Though the system is now operational, a formal dedication ceremony is planned for later this year to honor the tribal members, funders, and partners who helped bring the vision to life.
Projects like this don’t happen overnight. They take years of planning, vision, partnership, and persistence. They are born from cultural values and made possible by technical know-how and unshakable commitment. And they are exactly the kind of Indigenous-led, community-driven work that Indigenized Energy was created to support.
“This project shows what’s possible when we lead with culture, when we trust tribal knowledge, and when we back it up with resources and respect,” said Two Bears. “It’s more than energy. It’s the beginning of a new era.”
