Buzz
The beautiful and mysterious image of large white buffaloes has long been a sacred symbol among Native American tribes.
The rarity of white buffaloes may lead many to believe they are merely mythical, as most have never seen one.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the population of white buffalo is only about 1 in 10 million, so it's no wonder these legendary creatures have become revered beings in Native American communities.
This belief stems from a 2,000-year-old legend of the Lakota tribe (also known as the Sioux) about Pte Ska Win or Ptesanwi, a goddess depicted alongside a white American buffalo.
However, why are white buffaloes considered symbols of goodness for Native Americans? The American Indian College Fund reports that the story of large white buffaloes spans many generations and originates from individuals within the Lakota tribe.
Legend has it that before leaving the Lakota tribe for the sky realm, the goddess Ptesanwi prophesied that whenever a white buffalo is born, it is a sign that the goddess will manifest again, bringing harmony and blessings to the earthly realm.
According to legend, long ago, the Lakota people participated in a traditional ceremony involving seven sacred fires. However, in the summer, a sudden drought struck, making the land dry and the tribes struggling to find food. Two young men from the tribe volunteered to venture into the wilderness of South Dakota to hunt. While they were searching, they spotted a figure in the distance. As they approached, the figure revealed herself to be a beautiful woman.
This woman then advised them to 'return to the people of the tribe' and wait for her to arrive, although no one knew where she truly came from and what her words meant. However, she later appeared before the starving Lakota people and presented them with a sacred pipe.
She taught them about the mysteries of the world, the relationship between all living things, and the essence of life's truths. Legend has it that the woman then fell to the ground and rolled four times before transforming into a white buffalo and disappearing forever.
A herd of buffaloes also suddenly appeared after she disappeared, and the Lakota people were saved by the meat of these buffaloes. Since then, they have regarded large white buffaloes as sacred objects, bringers of salvation and promise, as the American Indian College Fund states.
In June 2022, KKTV reported that a white buffalo was born in the Chippewa Native American reservation in North Dakota. 'I didn't believe it,' tribal chairman Jamie Azure shared. 'I said I'll believe it when I see it because last year we heard about a white buffalo being born, but no one could confirm it.'
Ten years ago, on April 30, 2012, the carcass of a white buffalo born on a Lakota Native American ranch in North Texas was discovered, but it had been killed and skinned by someone. 'Someone may have known we were out of town, so they killed and skinned it,' Arby Little Soldier, the ranch owner, told reporters after finding the carcass of the newborn white buffalo. The Native American community in the area offered a $45,000 reward for anyone who could assist in finding the person who killed this white buffalo.
On August 20, 1994, a white buffalo named Miracle was born on a farm in Janesville, Wisconsin. It is believed to be the first white buffalo born since 1933. It is important to note that Miracle is a very rare and precious white buffalo and should not be confused with an albino buffalo.
For Native American people, Miracle's birth is considered a miracle bringing hope and peace to all nations and peoples. To this day, the last known white buffalo, named Baby, was born on July 4, 2012, in Avon, Minnesota, but sadly, it died two weeks later.
Source: Animalia; Unbelievable, ZME
