Rare White Buffalo Born in Yellowstone, Montana, Tribes Reveal Name

A rare white buffalo believed to have been born earlier this month in Yellowstone has been officially named by Native American tribe members.

The calf’s momentous birth turned into a celebration that led to hundreds of people gathering to reveal the animal’s name.

The calf was named Wakan Gli, meaning “Sacred Return” in Lakota, according to the Associated Press (AP).

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The religious baptism ceremony included dancing, drumming, singing and the recitation of the White Buffalo Woman prophecy.

The birth of the rare white buffalo calf is believed to mean that “better times” are ahead. The message apparently serves as both a blessing and a warning.

“It’s up to each and every one of you to make this happen for the future of our children. We have to come together and bring back that good energy,” Chief Arvol Looking Horse said at the ceremony a few miles west of Yellowstone in southern Montana, the AP reported.

About 500 people attended the sacred ceremony at Buffalo Field Campaign headquarters – including representatives from the Colville tribes in Washington, Lakota and Sioux in the Dakotas, Northern Arapaho in Wyoming and Shoshone-Bannock in Idaho.

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The calf was seen by only a few people and even fewer were able to take a photo of the white-furred animal.

Erin Braaten captured stunning photos of the rare white calf earlier this month while she was with her family in Yosemite. (Erin Braaten: photograph of dancing aspens)

A Montana photographer took photos of the calf during a family vacation in Yellowstone.

Erin Braaten of Dancing Aspens Photography saw the creature and assumed it was a coyote.

“I pulled out my camera. I keep it on the side as we walk through the park in case something exciting happens… (I) just looked at it, and it was definitely not a coyote but a young white bison,” Braaten told Fox News Digital.

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“(Taking that picture) is like one of those things you dream about (and think), ‘Oh, that would be kind of cool to take a picture of,’ but you never really expected to get the chance.”

The rare calf has been named Wakan Gli, which means “Sacred Return” in Lakota. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson; Erin Braaten: Photography by Dancing Aspens)

The rare animal has not been seen since early June, but Yellowstone officials regularly monitor the area.

“Yellowstone is aware and is monitoring social media posts and media reports regarding these sightings. We cannot confirm at this time whether a white bison was born in the park,” a Yellowstone official told Fox News Digital.

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“We have staff that go out into the field regularly and if they identify the calf, we will share that information. We recognize the importance of a white bison calf to Native Americans.”

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The birth of Wakan Gli is considered “a miracle” for the Lakota people and other Native American tribes.

“For the many tribes that revere the American bison — they call them ‘buffalo’ — the calf’s appearance was both the fulfillment of a sacred prophecy and a message to take better care of the Earth,” the AP reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.