The return of dire wolves to the modern world carries profound cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous communities whose ancestors lived alongside these magnificent predators for thousands of years. Colossal Biosciences has actively engaged with Indigenous leaders and communities throughout their de-extinction work, recognizing that the restoration of extinct species involves not just scientific achievement but cultural healing and spiritual reconnection.
Mark N. Fox, Chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, offered a powerful perspective on the dire wolf’s return: “The de-extinction of the dire wolf is more than a biological revival. Its birth symbolizes a reawakening – a return of an ancient spirit to the world. The dire wolf carries the echoes of our ancestors, their wisdom, and their connection to the wild.”
This spiritual dimension of de-extinction reflects Indigenous understanding of the interconnectedness of all life. For many Native communities, the disappearance of species like dire wolves represents not just ecological loss but a severing of ancient relationships that sustained both human and animal communities for millennia.
“Its presence would remind us of our responsibility as stewards of the Earth – to protect not just the wolf, but the delicate balance of life itself,” Chairman Fox continued. “The work of the team at Colossal Biosciences is not only significant to our lands and people, but for conservation efforts across the globe.”
The Nez Perce Tribe, with their deep connection to wolves (Himiin in their language), sees the dire wolf restoration as part of a broader conservation mission. Eric Kash Kash, Director of the Wildlife Division for the Nez Perce Tribe, emphasized their commitment to collaboration: “The Nez Perce Tribe (Niimiipuu) holds a deep connection to our wolf relatives and has long been at the forefront of their recovery and management. In partnership with Colossal, we look forward to leveraging next-generation conservation technologies—advanced by dire wolf de-extinction—to protect and restore wolves and other species crucial to our people.”
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This partnership approach reflects Indigenous communities’ unique position as both traditional knowledge holders and modern conservation leaders. Many tribes have been at the forefront of wildlife restoration efforts, combining ancestral wisdom with contemporary science to protect and restore native species.
The Karankawa Tribe of Texas, represented by Absolem Yetzirah, draws parallels between their own survival and that of the wolves: “The critical de-extinction of Dire Wolf measurably advances the conservation and recovery program of Galveston’s Red Wolf, a species once believed to be extinct. We Karankawa peoples highly resonate with the need to address and correct inaccurate extinction misinformation. Our people were also wrongly deemed to be extinct so we are kindred spirits with our four-legged relatives.”
This connection between Indigenous survival and species survival reflects shared experiences of displacement, persecution, and resilience. Many Indigenous communities see wildlife restoration as part of their own cultural revitalization efforts, recognizing that healthy ecosystems and healthy communities are inseparable.
Mo J. Brings Plenty, an Oglala Lakota actor and cultural advocate, emphasized the spiritual significance of wolves in Indigenous worldview: “Wolves serve a vital role in our community’s culture, history and way of life. Birthing and re-integrating important extinct and endangered wolf species will help to preserve and restore the land to the way it was originally made to be.”
His words reflect a fundamental Indigenous principle that restoration involves returning to original relationships and balances established by the Creator. “The Great Creator made them also,” he noted, acknowledging the spiritual dimension of all creation.
“The human race does not know how to heal the land. Original creation does,” Brings Plenty continued. “The First of Creation gives us the ability to understand the original design of the planet and the spiritual significance. With the knowledge that has been dormant in our DNA, we must reawaken that memory within ourselves to the tradition of ‘Co-Existence’ for the sake of a healthy land again.”
This perspective positions dire wolves not just as restored species but as teachers that can help humans remember proper relationships with the natural world. The concept of co-existence, fundamental to many Indigenous worldviews, offers guidance for managing restored species in modern landscapes.
Colossal’s collaborative approach has extended beyond consultation to active partnership. The company works with multiple Indigenous communities, including the MHA Nation, Nez Perce Tribe, Karankawa Tribe of Texas, INDIGENOUS LED, and the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative. These partnerships recognize Indigenous communities as essential stakeholders in restoration efforts affecting their traditional territories.
The cultural significance extends beyond individual species to broader concepts of responsibility and stewardship. “They are the healers,” Brings Plenty observed. “If we care about our children, we will find pathways to ensure co-existence. The further back we look, the further ahead we go.”
This temporal perspective—looking backward to move forward—aligns with Indigenous approaches to sustainability that consider the impacts of decisions on seven generations into the future. The restoration of dire wolves represents a long-term commitment to ecological and cultural healing.
The Indigenous voices in the dire wolf story highlight dimensions of conservation that extend far beyond biology and technology. They remind us that extinction and restoration are not just scientific phenomena but cultural and spiritual processes that affect entire communities and worldviews.
As the dire wolf pups continue to grow and develop, they carry not just genetic material from the Ice Age but also the hopes and wisdom of Indigenous communities who see their return as part of a larger healing process. Their story demonstrates that successful conservation requires not just scientific innovation but cultural partnership and spiritual understanding.
The restoration of dire wolves thus becomes a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern capability, showing how Indigenous knowledge and contemporary science can work together to address the biodiversity crisis while honoring the deep relationships that connect all forms of life.
