▁early ▁ 1 9 8 0 s ▁continues ▁to ▁this ▁day , ▁with ▁advoc acy ▁groups ▁arg uing ▁that ▁the ▁her d ▁should ▁be ▁protected ▁as ▁a ▁distinct ▁population ▁segment ▁under ▁the ▁End anger ed ▁Species ▁Act . ▁ ▁Native ▁American ▁b ison ▁conservation ▁efforts ▁ ▁Many ▁conservation ▁measures ▁have ▁been ▁taken ▁by ▁American ▁Indian ▁Nations ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁preserve ▁and ▁grow ▁the ▁b ison ▁population ▁as ▁well . ▁Of ▁these ▁Native ▁conservation ▁efforts , ▁the ▁Inter ▁Trib al ▁B ison ▁Council ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁significant . ▁It ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁composed ▁of ▁ 5 6 ▁tribes ▁in ▁ 1 9 ▁states . ▁These ▁tribes ▁represent ▁a ▁collect ive ▁her d ▁of ▁more ▁than ▁ 1 5 , 0 0 0 ▁b ison ▁and ▁focus ▁on ▁re est ab lish ing ▁her ds ▁on ▁Indian ▁lands ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁promote ▁culture , ▁rev ital ize ▁spiritual ▁solid ar ity , ▁and ▁restore ▁the ▁e cos ystem . ▁Some ▁Inter ▁Trib al ▁B ison ▁Council ▁members ▁argue ▁that ▁the ▁b ison ' s ▁economic ▁value ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁main ▁factors ▁driving ▁its ▁res urg ence . ▁B ison ▁serve ▁as ▁a ▁low ▁cost ▁substitute ▁for ▁cattle , ▁and ▁can ▁with stand ▁the ▁winter s ▁in ▁the ▁Pla ins ▁region ▁far ▁easier ▁than ▁cattle . ▁ ▁A ▁recent ▁Native ▁American ▁conservation ▁effort ▁that ▁has ▁been ▁gain ing ▁ground ▁is ▁the ▁Buff alo ▁Field ▁Camp aign . ▁F ounded ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁by ▁Mike