Thirty-two bison died of thirst on Quapaw Nation land in northeast Oklahoma this summer. A broken water system cut off their supply during a triple-digit heatwave, and the nearby pond had gone dry. The dead included matriarchs of the herd and Frosty, a rare white bull held sacred by the community. Chairman Jesse McKibben and the Quapaw Nation Business Committee have the power to make sure this never happens again, and that tribal citizens learn exactly how it happened.

These deaths were preventable. Community members have asked how the animals could go without water for days when a simple daily visit would have revealed empty troughs. Nearly one in five animals in the herd was lost, and the 143 survivors still need weeks of veterinary care.

The Nation has already taken important first steps: a new well, a bigger pond, and required twice-daily monitoring logs. Those changes should become permanent, written into the Nation's new Wildlife Code alongside backup water sources and an emergency plan for extreme heat.

Tribal citizens also deserve a clear account. An investigation with outside agricultural and veterinary experts is underway, with more findings expected at the October council meetings. Releasing the full report, including what failed and who was responsible for daily oversight, would honor the animals lost and help rebuild trust.

This herd represents 16 years of work toward food sovereignty and cultural restoration. Protecting it protects a living part of Quapaw heritage.

Sign the petition to ask Quapaw Nation leaders to make these safeguards permanent and share the full findings in October, before another heatwave puts the herd at risk.