A White Buffalo is born
Photo 142734114 | White Bison © Awwaldo | Dreamstime.com
On June 4th, a white buffalo calf was discovered in the Lamar Valley in the northeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. The birth of a white buffalo calf with black nose, eyes and hooves is a rare occurrence and holds spiritual significance for American Plains Indian tribes.
Chief Arvol Looking Horse is the spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, and the Nakota Oyate in South Dakota and also the 19th keeper of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman Pipe and Bundle. Chief Looking Horse called the birth a “blessing and warning,” noting that it is a sign of hope for the future but also a call for us to “do more” for Mother Earth.
The Significance of the Buffalo
The American buffalo, or bison, has a storied history intertwined with the ecology and culture of North America. Roaming the continent for thousands of years, the buffalo thrived in diverse environments from the Great Plains to the eastern forests and as far south as Mexico. With estimated populations between 30-60 million, these majestic animals were integral to the way of life for many Native American tribes. For the Plains tribes, in particular, the buffalo was vital, providing food, clothing, shelter, and tools, shaping their nomadic lifestyle and cultural practices.
The culture of the Northern Plains Indians’ cosmological view is marked by
the sanctity of all creation and it is their worldview is that every plant, animal, and human being is sacred. Likewise, the Lakota people’s philosophy is characterized by the interconnectivity of things. Life consists of parts that are pieces of a greater whole, which forms the grand scheme of the universe.” Aktá Lakota
The buffalo played a critical role in the spiritual, emotional, economic, and cultural existence of many indigenous tribes, including the Northern Plains Lakota, Salish, Kootenai, Mandan-Hidatsa, and Blackfeet and the Southern Plains Kiowa, Comanche, and Cheyenne.
In the late 1780s, over 30 million buffalo roamed the plains and prairies of the American West.
The Slaughter of Buffalo & Culture
“Amidst the trampling throng, Mons. Chardon had wounded a stately bull, and at this moment was passing him again with his piece levelled for another shot; they were both at full speed and I also, within the reach of the muzzle of my gun, when the bull instantly turned and receiving the horse upon his horns, and the ground received poor Chardon, who made a frog's leap of some twenty feet or more over the bull's back, and almost under my horse's heels.” George Catlin made this sketch in 1832 on his Missouri River voyage. (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 1, no. 4, 1841; reprint 1973)
Batiste and I Running Buffalo, Mouth of the Yellowstone, George Catlin
Most of these buffalo—millions upon millions—were slaughtered between the 1830s and the 1870s. By 1889, fewer than 200 buffalo remained in the wild. Just five years later, in 1894, that number had plummeted to around 25 and on the brink of extinction.
Settlers
The arrival of European settlers in the 16th century marked the beginning of significant changes for the buffalo. Initially, the population remained robust, but the introduction of horses by the Spanish revolutionized hunting practices among American Indians, making buffalo hunting more efficient.
Fur Trade
By the early 19th century, buffalo hunting intensified due to the fur trade, with hides becoming a valuable commodity. Market hunting further decimated the population, driven by demand for hides and meat, exacerbating the decline.
Big Game Trophy Hunters & the US Army
The most dramatic decline occurred in the mid to late 1800s with the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, which facilitated easier access to the Great Plains. Professional hunters, often encouraged by the government, slaughtered millions of buffalo to undermine the Native American way of life and force tribes onto reservations.
During the ignominious days of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the hunt for buffalo was a big game trophy hunt for wealthy New Yorkers as well as a means to slaughter Indian culture via the US Army. Major General Phillip Sheridan joined the hunts with a strategic plan that sought to kill Indian culture through the killings of buffalo. One US Colonel who encouraged the hunts tried to assuage a guilt-ridden hunter who had killed 30 buffalo with the words, “Kill every buffalo you can! Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone.”
Keeping Hope Alive: The Lakota white buffalo prophecy
The Lakota White Buffalo Prophecy is a revered spiritual teaching within the Lakota Sioux tradition, symbolizing hope, renewal, and the return of harmony to the world. According to the prophecy, a sacred white buffalo calf would be born, heralding a time of profound change and the fulfillment of promises made by the White Buffalo Woman, a divine figure who brought sacred ceremonies and teachings to the Lakota people. The birth of a white buffalo is seen as a miraculous event, signifying the potential for unity among all races and the restoration of balance between humans and nature. This prophecy holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, reminding the Lakota and other indigenous peoples of their connection to the land and their role as stewards of the earth's wellbeing.
Read the legend.
Resilience of the Buffalo and Native Peoples
Documentarian Ken Burns traces the buffalo’s demise and return in his recent PBS film, The American Buffalo. In Part II of the documentary, the viewer is introduced to a large cast of dedicated human beings committed to save species bison bison from extinction—including Theodore Roosevelt, Texas cattleman Charles Goodnight, to Latatí and Michel Pablo on the Flathead reservation in Montana.
Efforts included establishing protected reserves and breeding programs. The American Bison Society, founded in 1905, played a crucial role in these initiatives. As a result, the buffalo population began to recover. Today, around 500,000 bison exist in North America, although most are raised on private ranches for commercial purposes, with approximately 30,000 living in protected areas such as national parks and tribal lands.
The buffalo's resurgence is a testament to its species resilience and successful conservation efforts. It remains a potent symbol for Native American tribes, many of whom actively participate in buffalo conservation and management. Restoring buffalo herds on tribal lands is seen as a means of cultural revitalization and ecological restoration. As a keystone species, the buffalo plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of prairie ecosystems, with their grazing patterns and wallows supporting biodiversity. Modern challenges include maintaining genetic diversity and balancing conservation with commercial interests, ensuring sustainable practices and ethical management for the long-term health of buffalo populations.
Hope Anew with Much Work To Do
A celebratory naming ceremony for the calf will be held on June 26 at the Buffalo Field Campaign headquarters in West Yellowstone. In 1994, a similar white buffalo calf was born in Wisconsin and named Miracle, marking a significant and hopeful event for many who hold this prophecy dear.
