In a heartfelt ceremony near Hebgen Lake, close to Yellowstone National Park, hundreds of people gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the birth of a rare white buffalo calf.
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| This photo is by Jordan Creech shows a white buffalo calf born on June 4, 2024, in the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park (Jordan Creech via AP) |
Chief Arvol Looking Horse revealed the calf's name, Wakan Gli, meaning "Return Sacred" in Lakota, while celebrating the special occasion. The event included important Native American religious rites, including dancing, drumming, singing, and storytelling.
The white buffalo calf was born earlier this month in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park, where large herds of bison roam. For many Native American tribes, this calf's birth fulfills a sacred prophecy and serves as a reminder to care for the Earth.
Chief Looking Horse explained that the name Wakan Gli signifies the sacred and prophetic nature of the calf's birth. The celebration included dancing, drumming, singing, and retelling the legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. Around 500 people, including representatives from various tribes, attended the ceremony at Buffalo Field Campaign's headquarters near Hebgen Lake.
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| Native American Tribes Celebrate the birth of white buffalo calf at the headquarters of the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone, Mont., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson) |
The white buffalo calf has deep spiritual significance for many Native American tribes, viewed as both a blessing and a warning. According to Lakota legend, the White Buffalo Calf Woman appeared 2,000 years ago during a time of hardship, promising to return as a white buffalo calf in times of need.
Chief Looking Horse said, "It’s up to each and every one of you to make it happen for the future of our children. We must come together and bring that good energy back."
The calf was last seen shortly after its birth on June 4. Since then, it has not been spotted, raising concerns that it may have fallen prey to predators, river currents, illness, or other dangers. However, its birth remains a hopeful sign deeply rooted in Lakota legend and spiritual belief.
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| People gather at the headquarters of the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone, Mont., to celebrate the recently born white buffalo, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. T (AP Photo/Sam Wilson) |
White buffalo calves are extremely rare, especially in the wild. While white calves can appear on buffalo ranches due to interbreeding with cattle, there is no record of a white bison being born in Yellowstone, the largest wild reserve of these animals in North America, in recent memory, if ever.
Chief Looking Horse and other tribal leaders interpret the birth as a message from nature. "Mother Earth is sick and has a fever," Looking Horse said. "It is the fulfillment of our prophecy." Preservationist Devin Old Man added, "It’s hard to be a native these days. We have to look at the bigger picture."
Efforts to protect and honor wild buffalo are ongoing by the Buffalo Field Campaign, a conservation group collaborating with tribes. Mike Mease, the co-founder, stressed the importance of preserving the remaining buffalo in Yellowstone. "These are the last animals of the 30 to 60 million that once roamed the continent," he said.
Jordan Creech, who is a guide in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, was among the few who photographed the white buffalo calf.
Creech was on a photography tour when he noticed a female buffalo about to give birth near the Lamar River. The buffalo moved out of sight over a hill and so the group continued to an area where grizzly bears had been seen, Creech recounted.
When they returned later, they saw the mother buffalo with her newborn calf. It was obvious the calf had just been born. Creech described it as perfect timing.
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