Braun (Indian studies, U. of North Dakota, Grand Forks) examines a 15-year effort of one tribal community, the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, to build a tribally owned and operated buffalo operation. Based on fieldwork begun in 2001 and employing anthropological, economic, and ecological approaches, the text uses the tribe's buffalo-raising operation to illustrate certain aspects of contemporary Lakota culture and society and to present a model of indigenous people's efforts to gain control over their futures. It explores issues of sustainability, economic development, sovereignty, ecology, health, representation of history, and the intersection of all of these complex concepts: place. In tracing the history of the project, the author considers the pros and cons of such endeavors, and assesses their fit with traditional and contemporary Lakota values. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)