White Buffalo, Part 5: Lone Star

Lone Star with calf

A true white buffalo happens only once every ten million births, according to the National Bison Association, but many white buffalo in North America result from breading a buffalo with cattle (sometimes referred to as bison hybrid,  beefalo or cattalo). Breeding the buffalo with cattle has been a serious setback to wild American bison conservation. Most current bison herds are genetically polluted or partly crossbred with cattle leaving only four genetically unmixed American bison herds left.   One of these herds is kept at the Fort Worth Nature Center near Fort Worth, Texas.  The crossbred herd vary in type and color, depending on the breed of cattle used [e.g. Herefords and Charolais (beef cattle), Holsteins (dairy) or Brahman (humped cattle)].  Buffalo bred with Charolais cattle produce a much lighter colored calf sometimes almost white.

 

This is a preview of White Buffalo, Part 5: Lone Star. Read the full post (766 words, 6 images, estimated 3:04 mins reading time)

 

White Buffalo, Part 4: Mystery of Lightning Medicine Cloud

Lightning Medicine Cloud with mother

May 12, 2011, Arby Little Soldier, owner of the Lakota Buffalo Ranch in east Texas discovered that one of his buffalo cows (dams) had given birth to a genuine white buffalo calf.  A few months later during a celebration drawing over 2,000 admirers, the calf was named Lightning Medicine Cloud.  The white calf  represented the return of White Buffalo Woman and her promise to bring hope and help to the people.  Arby Little Soldier announced,  “The spiritual message behind this buffalo today is the hope of all nations to come together …”

This is a preview of White Buffalo, Part 4: Mystery of Lightning Medicine Cloud. Read the full post (1210 words, 5 images, estimated 4:50 mins reading time)

White Buffalo, Part 3: Mystery of Lightning Medicine Cloud

Lightning Medicine Cloud with mother

When a white buffalo was born before 1830, it was born in the wild, a gift from White Buffalo Woman as a sacred reminder of her promise to return to help the people.  The calf was sacred and a gift to all of the people.  Today, the closest thing to a wild buffalo is found in National Parks like Yellowstone.  When a white buffalo calf is born in captivity it can bring great notoriety to the owner but can also bring great tragedy.  Take the case of “Lightning Medicine Cloud” born on the Lakota Ranch near Dallas, Texas owned by Arby Little Soldier.

 

This is a preview of White Buffalo, Part 3: Mystery of Lightning Medicine Cloud. Read the full post (1038 words, 4 images, estimated 4:09 mins reading time)

White Buffalo, Part 2: History

The White Buffalo has been the most sacred living thing to the Plains Indians for over 2,000 years.  Itsee White Buffalo, Part 1: The Legend).  The white buffalo calf brings the promise of great blessings to those who respect and adopt the ways taught by White Buffalo Woman.  But, the calf can also bring a curse to those who ignore the signs and make the wrong choices.

symbolizes the promised return of White Buffalo Woman (

 

This is a preview of White Buffalo, Part 2: The History. Read the full post (970 words, 5 images, estimated 3:53 mins reading time

White Buffalo, Part 1: The Legend

The fantastic author, Margaret Coel, has a new book out titled “Night of the White Buffalo“.  In the book, a white buffalo calf is born on a white couple’s ranch in the middle of the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.  Just the idea prompted many thoughts and questions, so here are the results of my research on the subject.

Big Medicine 1933-1959

 

This is a preview of White Buffalo, Part 1: The Legend. Read the full post (585 words, 3 images, estimated 2:20 mins reading time)

Great Sites, Part 6: Cherokee Crafts

This week’s article is on Cherokee crafts from the 18th century explained and demonstrated at Diligwa Village at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  This reconstruction of an authentic Cherokee village from 1710 is a great site to visit to get a feel for how the Cherokee lived back then.  Many thanks to Feather Smith and Betty for their contributions.

This is a preview of Great Sites, Part 6: Cherokee Crafts. Read the full post (671 words, 5 images, estimated 2:41 mins reading time)

Great Sites, Part 5: Cherokee Weapons and Games

This week we are going to explore the weapons and games used by the Cherokee in the 16th century based on the guide and demonstrators of Diligwa Village at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

This is a preview of Great Sites, Part 5, Cherokee Weapons and Games. Read the full post (853 words, 5 images, estimated 3:25 mins reading time)