Legend of the White Buffalo
I learned of this legend passed down by the Lakota Sioux of South Dakota after visiting the Badlands and viewing herds of buffalo. The white buffalo is extremely rare, said to occur only once in 6 million births. White buffalo are considered sacred to the Lakota Sioux and may have spiritual significance similar to weeping statues, bleeding icons or crosses of light in some Christian traditions. White buffalo symbolize abundance and sacred life as evidenced in this legend.
One summer long ago seven council fires of Lakota Sioux met together to discuss their lack of game as the people were starving. Two young braves were sent out to hunt in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
A beautiful young woman with long dark hair and dressed in buckskin and carrying a bundle wrapped in a buffalo hide appeared before the young hunters. She told them that she knew their thoughts and that one had good thought and one had bad thoughts. A cloud of dust rose around the man with lustful thoughts and only a skeleton was left. The second hunter was very frightened but listened to the holy woman's message.
The woman said that change was coming and soon there would be an abundance of buffalo, but there would also be trials as the climate of the earth was changing. Her message was that all people of every color must work together if they hoped to thrive in the future. She gave the bundle containing a sacred pipe to the young brave to share with the tribes. The sacred pipe has been honored and passed down for nineteen generations.
As the woman departed she tumbled four times and changed in color from black to red to yellow and finally to a white buffalo calf. Soon after the visit of the holy woman herds of buffalo became abundant. It is believed that the changing colors of the woman represent all races of humans, who must work together in unity to save our earth for future generations. The Native Americans see the white buffalo calf as a sign of life's sacred circle.
Source: http://www.lightningmedicinecloud.com/legend.html
A white buffalo or white bison is considered sacred or spiritually significant in several Native American religions; therefore such buffalo are often visited for prayer and other religious rituals. The coats of buffalo are almost always brown and their skin a dark brown or black, while white buffalo are extremely rare. The National Bison Association has estimated that they only occur in approximately one out of every 10 million births.
Native Americans see the birth of a white buffalo calf as a prophetic sign, similar to the weeping statues, bleeding icons, and crosses of light that are meaningful to some Christians. As Christians may view these signs as a renewal of God's ongoing relationship with humanity, so Native Americans view the white buffalo calf as the sign of life's sacred circle.
An early story about a white buffalo was documented by historian Josiah Gregg and travelers on the Santa Fe trail. In 1833 during the Leonid Meteor Shower (The Night the Stars Fell), a white bison was killed by the Cheyenne who scribed a peace and trade treaty on its skin.
Twilight Trail Ride (c) Ruth Soller, oil on linen, 16x20, $1200, Room 185
You're invited to the Western Masters Art Show & Sale, a four-day fine art exhibition held March 19-22, 2014 at the Best Western Heritage Inn in Great Falls, Montana. For 40 years artists have exhibited in hotel rooms cleared of furniture to create a gallery setting. You will experience paintings and sculptures by 109 of the country's premiere Western artists during Western Art Week. The Western Masters Art Show gives Western art lovers a unique opportunity to meet and talk to their favorite artists while enjoying food, drinks, demonstrations and educational presentations. The exhibitors' rooms at the Western Masters Art Show & Sale are open all day from Wednesday evening through Saturday evening.
I'm thrilled to be invited to exhibit in the Western Masters Art Show & Sale in Room 185 and am featuring oil paintings around the theme Old West Relics & Memories. I look forward to meeting you soon!
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Even if you are unable to attend the Western Masters Art Show & Sale, you are welcome to purchase these Little Sky Paintings prior to the show directly from my website, as new works are posted here: http://ruthsoller.fineartstudioonline.com/collections/63822
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