Happy Heart Ranch

Sacred Ground International and The Happy Heart Ranch are headquartered and co-exist on 3000 acres at the base of the Sacred Pryor Mountains located on the Crow Indian Reservation near Pryor, Montana.  A model of sustainable ranching that utilizes principles of Conservation, Preservation and Restoration of both cultural and natural resources.  This is a Living Learning Center where an international team of staff and volunteers are:

  • Restoring land devastated by drought and overgrazing

  • Revitalizing degraded soils and wetlands

  • Raising Buffalo, demonstrating their economic, cultural and bio-restorative viability

  • Raising Paint Mustangs, practicing natural horse training and holistic care

  • Growing Organic Gardens

  • Wild crafting and use Medicinal and Edible plants

  • Providing experiential learning for ranching communities as well as international guests, students, interns and volunteers

  • Blending ancient wisdom with emerging science and technologies, collaborating with educators, scientists, organizations and Wisdom Keepers to promote the well being of all life in this primary bio-region

  • Restoring habitat for threatened and endangered species and of cultural concern

  • Increasing bio-diversity in plant and wildlife habitat

 Brooke Medicine Eagle:

“This model serves the Native, ranching and global community as an educational arena for interdependent yet self-sufficient harmonious life.  We believe this practical work of demonstrating healthy and harmonious living while educating the children, is a way to create a social and cultural bridge for growth and healing in the Native communities.  We hope to help them restore the vitality of their lives by embracing the richness of their own culture and heritage (including buffalo, horses, sacred herbs, and ceremony) – making it viable in the modern world.  This work honors the old ways, the present situation, and the hope of the future.  Our living question is how to create a practical spirituality – ‘Does it grow corn?  Does it create sustainable and beneficial community on all levels of life?’

We believe that teaching through modeling of workable systems is the key to transforming our society’s current unsustainable practices.

Brooke Medicine Eagle, Crow, Author and Spiritual Leader, SGI Board of Advisors

Watch for classes, gatherings, News/Events or contact us and ask about your special interest and this may birth a new event we may offer. As we serve the needs of the land and the animals, we also wish to serve our communities in ways we may not realize we can yet. We are rich in Natural Resources, wide spaces and love of what we do.

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The Buffalo

“We are the Ancient Ones who have returned for our people (ALL people). Once we filled their bellies, sheltered their bodies and taught their Spirits... We have returned.”

At one time, not that long ago, 60 million buffalo roamed free and in harmony with nature across America. The Native American on the western plains relied on “Tatanka” for all aspects of their lives. Knowing this, the U.S. Government ordered all the buffalo to be eliminated during the Indian Wars of the 1800’s. Outside of a few in the mountains around Yellowstone Park and some in captivity, they nearly succeeded. With the passing of the buffalo, life on every level of the ecosystem and the lives of the Native People and all people would change forever.

The Pryor Mountains and rolling plains beyond, still carry the marks of the millions of buffalo that migrated through its ecosystem in buffalo wallows, horn caps, bones and the stories the local Native tell of their childhood adventures. The buffalo held such dominion over the plains, self sustaining and a role model/teacher for us today.

We have found that the natural ‘hoof action’ and migration habits of the buffalo have been the most significant contributor to on-the-ground restoration and maintenance of the native grasses, stream, riparian and natural spring systems, and wildlife habitat,

Experts in soil, water and grass conservation and restoration are provided new understanding and expanded realizations when they observe how the animals restore the land through their natural life cycle, doing what buffalo do. Fences provide the opportunity to accelerate and expand this process. Fence construction allows concentration of grazing on degraded pastures, maximizing the restoration process of all the lands available.

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Wild Buffalo Preserve

The buffalo are a part of the ancient landscape now nearly forgotten. Why this species roamed the prairies by the millions and thrived is rarely spoken of. They are an essential part of the reason the prairie did thrive. Their hoof action and constant movement kept the soil disturbed and fresh for renewal and further propagation.

The buffalo are hardy and have the ability to thrive in all types of weather. The buffalo does not have an immune system designed to live in stagnate surroundings such as corrals or feed lots. The buffalo at the Happy Heart have never been through a chute system, receive no shots and roam in large pastures with high fences to contain them.

These fences are for our peace of mind. The buffalo at any time could go wherever they wish and often have. We call this ranch a preserve because that is the goal…to preserve the buffalo and habitat necessary to allow this precious icon to live on and teach us what we have forgotten about stewardship.

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Buffalo and Conservation

Grazing Management: The sagebrush grassland requires minimal management beyond control of trespass cattle and managed moderate rotational grazing of the buffalo and horse herds.

Buffalo have always been an integral component of the native prairies. Buffalo grazing helps restore native grasses and improve soil quality. The hoof action breaks up the dead material and the crust of the ground, which allows the water to percolate into the ground to feed the grass roots. Buffalo are natural grazers that enjoy roaming the land, moving continuously over the landscape; they do not gather and “camp” in the sensitive pond and riparian areas like cattle. When they graze, buffalo don't eat below the crown of the grasses, allowing plants to regenerate, and their hooves and sizeable weight tills the soil, providing crevices for seeds to germinate.

When winter is over, bison begin to frolic, rolling on the ground and rubbing on trees and fences to shed their winter coats. Their winter coats act as efficient harvesters as seeds of natural grasses caught in the winter coat are re-deposited in the soil. Their sharp hooves break up the frozen ground in the spring, allowing water to percolate more easily, guaranteeing the grass roots will receive needed water from rains. In the fall, bison break down dead grass by rolling on the ground as well as breaking it with their hoofs. Once the grass is broken, it decomposes into the soil, and the seeds grow easily the next spring. Bison also use their hooves to work manure and urine back into the soil.

On cattle ranches, cow hooves create problems. Their flat round hooves pack the soil, killing grasses and establishing ruts. Rain has trouble percolating through the packed soil. Cattle also tend to bunch up in one area of the pasture, overgrazing the vegetation, leaving bare ground vulnerable to erosion and gullying. Buffalo create the opposite effect; leveling out uneven land as they break down rough areas, aerating and fertilizing the ground.   

In these ways, the buffalo herd is playing a key role in the restoration of the tall grass prairie, keeping the biological circle healthy. Indeed, the buffalo on the Happy Heart Ranch are essential to the prairie ecology. The buffalo are true native prairie animals demonstrating their supreme adaptation to their natural habitat.

Bison raised on grass provide a very healthy meat product , with a high ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids, providing health benefits that may contribute to decreased heart disease, cancer, learning disabilities, and a multitude of other diseases. Bison raised on natural grasses with varied species of shrubs, grasses and forbs in the wild have all that is necessary to achieve their potential.

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Paint Mustangs

Wild mustangs symbolize all that is strong and free and beautiful about Montana. For more than a century, the Pryor Mountains have been home to bands of these wild horses and in 1968, the 31,000 acre Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range was established and was the first of its kind in America. In 1971, Congress declared these wild free roaming horses as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West: that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the nation and enrich the lives of the American people.”

The mustangs are native to the Pryor Mountains that border Happy Heart Ranch. (Pryor Wild Horse Range) These noble animals reflect the core values of Sacred Ground Intl. To further develop indigenous species as part of the cultural reclamation process, SGI has developed the Paint Mustang Program. The paint horse has long been associated with Native culture and is a distinctive symbol of the western plains. Our core herd originated from Pine Ridge South Dakota where they have run free and still carry the strength and stamina of free-roaming horses.

The SGI herd is unique. These beautiful horses exhibit the wild herd traits of strength and stamina and the ability to fight off predators. They have the traits necessary for mountain trail riding: stamina, gentility, patience and reliability. They also have better “emotional health.” During training and the gentling process, horses are brought in 2 and 3 at a time so as not to disturb the herd mentality and family order. The herd is naturally strong, unshod, eat natural grasses and are treated holistically for their rare instances of injury.

Our 17 horses have become family, extraordinary companions, and humbling teachers.

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The Sacred Way of The Hunt, Hunter and Hunted

The way of the Sacred Hunt took years to fall into my heart and find peace there.

To accept the role of assisting the buffalo to complete their journey and purpose was a war zone in my heart….to take a life and call it good, a gift, or Sacred! I also knew to take the lives of these intelligent and amazing teachers without embracing their request to do so would be a greater dishonoring.

Fifteen years ago, I stood humbled and in awe as the first donated buffalo were delivered to the ranch. I whispered, “Why have you come? What are you doing here?” They responded, “We are the Ancient Ones who have returned for the people. All people. Once we filled their bellies, sheltered their bodies and taught their Spirits…WE HAVE RETURNED.”

When consuming or surrounding ourselves with the gifts of their bodies, we take on the imprint and qualities of their spirit. The courage, the honor, the wisdom and the enormous love and joy they share and live! This is their teaching we share. The Hunt is Sacred, The Hunter is Sacred, The Hunted is Sacred…because the spirit of respect and honor flows through each in collaboration and clear purpose.

Our harvest process reflects my Lakota heritage and what we hold as a very respectful and honoring way to complete the buffalo’s journey here. The ‘Hunt’ takes place at home, on their beloved mountain surrounded by their family.

The day before, we go to the herd and let them know the harvest time has begun and we will return in the morning. We ask those who are ready, to set themselves apart.

That night there is a ceremony and food offerings to open the season. Prayers of gratitude and honoring are offered. Everyone is cleansed with sage and offers their prayers through the smoke of the Sacred Pipe. It is a solemn time as we know we are fulfilling a sacred mission. A very sacred and special friend is leaving to journey on.

At dawn the following morning everyone is cleansed with sage again. All the equipment, guns, bullets, knives and vehicles are also cleansed and blessed with sage. As the hunters depart for the mountain the sacred pipe is offered again and held open until the message can be heard that the hunt is complete.

In the field, the animals clearly set themselves apart. The “Hunter” is given one shot with another marksman standing ready. The mark is a tiny spot behind the ear. They quietly relax to the ground. The family, often the mother and siblings, surround first to say farewell. At first, I was amazed they did not leave. Instead they come forward and stand by while we offer tobacco and prayers of gratitude. This is magnificent and heart touching to witness. The buffalo have told me that as the bullet opens the door for the spirit to soar, all of heaven and the Ancestors begin to sing in celebration. As the buffalo spirit departs it thanks us for honoring and accepting the gift of their body they leave behind.


The animal is carried off the mountain and taken directly to the processor. The hides and skulls are delivered for finishing and tanning. All of the by-products are being used including the bones.

Commercially, the hides, bones and skulls are thrown away! Most of our skulls and robes are given to spiritual leaders and offered for ceremonial purposes such as the Sundance and Sacred Altars. All proceeds go toward our ability to sustain and follow our ancestor’s wisdom of using all of the gifts they offer us, including the wisdom to do so.

HUNTERS: We have now, opened to the public the opportunity to participate. Doing so offers many the experience of a Sacred journey, honoring all and enabling many to have the healthy alternative of the meat. Many create trophy mounts, and robes and skulls for home décor. At first, I balked at this….then was reminded that where the buffalo is, there is the ‘spirit’ as well. The stories of the ‘Sacred Hunt’ would be shared….the buffalo would continue to touch and bless. Their story would reverberate out to the people. All would be blessed.

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