Yellowstone sees the birth of a rare white bison, a sacred sign

The birth of a rare white bison has been reported in Yellowstone National Park, fulfilling a Native American prophecy of great change by honoring Mother Earth and inspiring the Lakota Native American tribe to hold a naming ceremony in response to this sacred birth.

The baby white bison was first spotted when Erin Braaten photographed the sighting on June 4. “Her family was visiting the park when they spotted ‘something really white’ among a herd of bison across the Lamar River,” the Associated Press reported. The birth of a white buffalo is extremely rare, National Geographic said. According to an ancient prophecy, the birth of a little white buffalo signifies a great change.

“The birth of the sacred calf comes as a harsh winter in 2023 has pushed thousands of Yellowstone buffalo to lower elevations,” AP said. Braaten photographed the baby calf near the northeast corner of the park in Lamar Valley.

Yellowstone Park is the only place in the United States where bison have continuously moved and lived since prehistoric times.

Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Oyate in South Dakota and the 19th keeper of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman Pipe and Bundle, told the AP that Lakota Indians believe in the birth of the white buffalo calf. is a blessing and a warning. Although the prophecy hints that better times are ahead, it also highlights that there is still much to be done to honor Mother Earth.

According to legend, two young Lakota men set out in search of buffalo; during their journey, they saw the figure of a beautiful woman, according to the Aktá Lakota Museum and Cultural Center. The beautiful woman approached the young men and said to them: “I am on a journey to your people. Among them is a good man whose name is Bull Walking Upright. I’m coming to see him. The beautiful woman told the young men to tell the tribe that she was on her way to speak to them. The men followed her wishes and the beautiful woman visited their camp. There, she gave the tribe a small red stone peace pipe on which is engraved the small outline of a buffalo calf. The pipe was to be smoked as a ceremonial ritual before praying to Mother Earth. The woman also explained to him how people should behave in order to live together in peace. The peace pipe was meant to be a sacred symbol and to be passed down from generation to generation to protect the tribe and to be used in sacred ceremonies and rituals.

The legend of the White Buffalo Woman will be honored this month, Looking Horse told PBS. A naming ceremony will be held following the recent sightings of the baby white buffalo to honor and celebrate the calf’s birth, scheduled for June 26 at campaign headquarters Buffalo Field in West Yellowstone.