The resurrection of the dire wolf after 12,000 years of extinction represents not only a scientific breakthrough but also holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for many Indigenous communities across North America. As apex predators that once roamed ancestral territories, dire wolves carry powerful symbolism that resonates with traditional knowledge and worldviews.
A Spiritual Reawakening
For many Indigenous nations, the return of an extinct species carries meaning that transcends scientific achievement. Mark Fox, Tribal Chairman of the MHA Nation, articulated this perspective eloquently in response to Colossal’s announcement:
“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. 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.”
This framing emphasizes how Indigenous worldviews often understand animals not merely as biological entities but as spiritual beings that connect past and present. The dire wolf’s return represents a restoration of relationships that were severed through extinction.
Fox continues by highlighting the significance of this work for Indigenous communities: “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 ability for technological innovation to bring forth something so culturally and spiritually significant to indigenous people is paralleled by the far-reaching impacts that this technology provides for the future of stewardship on our planet in species diversity and conservation.”
Wolves in Indigenous Traditions
Wolves hold special importance in many Indigenous cultures, often symbolizing family bonds, community protection, and spiritual guidance. Mo J. Brings Plenty, an Oglala Lakota actor, reflected on this relationship in the context of the dire wolf revival:
“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important extinct and endangered wolf species will help to preserve and restore the land to the way it was originally made to be. I am sure there are wolves in heaven. The Great Creator made them also.”
This perspective highlights how wolf conservation and revival connects to larger Indigenous conceptions of ecological restoration and spiritual balance. Brings Plenty continues: “The human race does not know how to heal the land. Original creation does. 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.”
Connections to Contemporary Conservation
Indigenous perspectives on the dire wolf revival often connect to ongoing efforts to protect endangered wolf species like the red wolf. The Nez Perce Tribe, which has been at the forefront of wolf recovery and management, sees potential in the new technologies developed through Colossal’s work.
Eric Kash Kash, Director of the Wildlife Division for the Nez Perce Tribe, notes: “The Nez Perce Tribe (Niimiipuu) holds a deep connection to our wolf (Himiin) 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.”
This statement reflects how some Indigenous communities see potential in bridging traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary genetic technologies to support conservation goals.
For the Karankawa Tribe of Texas, the dire wolf’s return parallels their own experience of rediscovering identity after historical erasure. Absolem Yetzirah of the Karankawa Tribe observes: “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.”
Collaborative Pathways Forward
Colossal Biosciences has actively sought Indigenous partnerships in developing its conservation approach. The company acknowledges collaboration with “the MHA Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Karankawa Tribe of Texas, INDIGENOUS LED, and the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, whose ancestral knowledge and insights have guided our efforts.”
This collaborative approach recognizes Indigenous peoples as knowledge holders and partners rather than merely stakeholders. It also acknowledges that any potential future rewilding of de-extinct or endangered species will require careful consideration of Indigenous territories, rights, and traditional relationships with wildlife.
As dire wolf de-extinction moves from laboratory achievement to conservation applications, these Indigenous perspectives offer important guidance on integrating scientific innovation with traditional knowledge systems and spiritual understandings of human-animal relationships. They remind us that reviving extinct species is not only about technological capability but also about restoring severed relationships between humans, wildlife, and landscapes—a holistic view that aligns with many Indigenous conceptions of environmental stewardship.
