In 1991, the tribe purchased 12 buffalo from a tribal member. The original investment was to supply the tribes Cultural Heritage Center Restaurant and serve buffalo as a menu item. At this time the buffalo were under the management of the restaurant then in 1995, management of the buffalo herd was turned over to Yakama Nation Wildlife Resource Management Program. Currently, the herd is at 154 buffalo but has reached over 200 buffalo in some years.

Yakama Nation became a member of the Intertribal Buffalo Council (ITBC) in 1998, who’s mission is to restore buffalo back to tribal lands. In December of 2021, the tribe received a Yellowstone family group  of 26 buffalo from ITBC. The programs goal is to introduce new genetics and manage for herd health.