« White Buffalo Calf Woman »

A very long time ago in time and many summers past, there was a legendary person who was known to be a beautiful young woman dressed in very decorative white doeskin regalia living among the Lakota Sioux in the lands of the Seven Councils of the Sioux. Even her knee length moccasins were white with lots of ornate and colorful beadwork designs. This particular young woman had dark eyes that matched her long black hair that was parted in the middle and braided on each side of her face in the manner and style that was typical to the women of that era. And most of all, SHE WAS A HOLY PERSON.

On this earth in the physical being, she was known as Mother of Life but in the spirit world, she was known as White Buffalo Calf Woman. She was the giver of food, clothing, love, protection, and Peace among the entire Sioux nation living in and around Paha Sapa, the Sacred Hills of South Dakota. She devoted her life in the physical plane to the caring and the extending of love for all the children with whom she came in contact. Mother of Life spent a lifetime caring as a mother for her people, and she grew to be known and respected as an elder woman.

Before the time of the Seven Councils and when all its people were one great nation, there were many things that caused an epidemic among these people, like the taking of human life by destroying and bringing hardships among its people. She was a part of the scene when an opposing people attacked her village and struck down all the villagers who came before them. Mother of Life saw a young child mortally wounded. Hurriedly, she rushed to the child and cradled it in her arms. She saw and felt life leaving the child as it died in her arms. She appealed to Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, the Great Creator "Why must the People settle their differences with such anger as that of an animal? When will they all realize that the children are the future of the people of the Great Seven Councils of the Sioux people?"

Her words to the Great Spirit were none too quick for an enemy's spear struck home to her heart. She slumped over bleeding profusely and forever cradling the little dead child in her arms. Their Spirits went away to the Great Spirit.

White Buffalo Calf Woman was among her people now there in the Paha Sapa and she came to all of the great Sioux Nation who needed her love and help.

On one occasion deep in the woods and near the grazing lands of a large herd of buffalo, a young Sans Arc Sioux brave was out hunting and to try to locate this herd of buffalo. He was lying on the ground resting when he felt the earth beneath him begin to tremble, and there was a rumbling noise to be heard. Much to his amazement and fear of what was happening, he ran and stumbled falling on his head. A large gash on his forehead was bleeding from his fall. Suddenly, he saw a large White Buffalo running towards him. It stopped, knelt down on the earth, and rolled over several times. Then there appeared in front of him a beautiful Indian woman dressed in all her finest regalia. She came to the Indian brave, whose name was Iron Hawk, to help him from his wounded and bleeding forehead. She told Iron Hawk that she was called White Buffalo Calf Woman and that she was sent here on Mother Earth to take care and help her people to live in peace with the large Sioux Nation. She bandaged Iron Hawk's forehead with love and care. She told him about her and the White Buffalo Calf. She told him about Mother of Life and how she loved her people, gave food to them, helped to bring clothing to them, and how she protected all of her people. Then, White Buffalo Calf Woman rose and walked to the clearing and knelt on her knees. She rolled over, and there before Iron Hawk's eyes was the White Buffalo!

Iron Hawk rubbed his eyes in a bewildered manner - had he really seen this beautiful Indian woman with long black hair, dark eyes, beautiful white doeskin regalia, and white knee length moccasins? Yet there his wounded forehead was bandaged. He had a lot to tell his people what he had seen when he returned to his village. He also had found and located the large buffalo herd that had not been seen for many seasons. He was very proud to give this news!

Upon entering his village, he ran to his father Black Horse, and his mother Pretty Shield, to tell them the news that he had located a large buffalo herd, and how he had seen and talked to the Holy Woman who was known as White Buffalo Calf Woman. She came to him when he fell on his forehead to help him. He showed them his bandaged forehead that she had placed on his head when she came to his rescue. With the news of the big herd of buffalo's location, the villagers became excited and were very pleased. For the buffalo herd meant food, clothing, and blankets for the coming cold weather. They prepared for the hunt of the buffalo. They made a big festival for this occasion that night asking Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, to help them go in safety for the hunt of the buffalo.

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