Tribal History and Lore Archives - Page 5 of 6

Are There Signs Of White Buffalo Calf Woman’s Return?

In my last post we discussed the legend of White Buffalo Calf Woman. We discussed briefly the story of this Native American holy woman and how she came to earth to teach the Lakota Sioux their Seven Sacred Rituals and left them the holiest of all worship symbols – the Sacred Pipe. Before she left The People she promised to come back to earth one day and that we would know she was coming when a white buffalo calf was born.

On August 20, 1994 a white buffalo calf was born along the Rock River in Janesville, Wisconsin. She was named “Miracle” and the world took notice. In fact by the autumn time of 2000 there were 7 white buffalo calves born onto the world stage. Some, might say this lessens the significance but many think these births are quite worthy of taking note. Is it just a coincidence that there were 7 born and there are 7 sacred rituals?

Miracle lived for 10 years and gave birth to 4 more white calves. To give you some idea of how phenomenal this is let me share some statistics with you. In the days when the buffalo herds were numerous, pre 1800s, the chances of a white buffalo calf being born were 1 in 10 million. Due to them being hunted to near extinction by the 1800s the odds became too high to even calculate. So, for the world to be seeing these calves being born more often at this time in history seems like a sign to me and millions of others who embrace the teachings of the indigenous peoples of North America.

Legend Of The Pipe by Singletree3

Perhaps at a time when our world seems to be driven by greed and mankind has embraced too many unholy ways, it is time for Pte San Wi to return to us and she is giving us signs to open our minds and hearts for her return. We need to understand and embrace her teachings that the Great Spirit lives in all things, gives life to all forms, and supplies energy to all things of creation. We are reminded by these white buffalo calves and their coming that the Lakota saying of Mitakuye Oyasin has real meaning and real significance to the survival of mankind here on Mother Earth.

~Mitakuye Oyasin~ We are all related

White Buffalo Calf Woman Legend

White Buffalo Calf Woman, to many, is a sacred woman. Some might call her a prophet or a messiah. She is a central figure in the Lakota religion or tradition. White Buffalo Calf Woman brought the extended Lakota nation of the Teton Sioux their “Seven Sacred Rituals”.

The ancestors tell us that long ago there was a time of famine. The chief of the Lakotas sent out two scouts to hunt for food. As the scouts traveled they saw a figure in the distance. As they approached they saw that it was a beautiful young woman in white clothing. One of the scouts was filled with desire for the woman. He approached her, planning to embrace the woman. If he found her pleasing, he would claim her as a wife. His companion warned him that she appeared to be a sacred woman. To do this would be a big mistake. The scout ignored his advice.

The companion watched as his friend approached and embraced the woman. A strange white cloud covered the pair. Then the cloud disappeared and only the mysterious woman remained. The remaining scout was frightened but the woman beckoned him forward. She told him that no harm would come to him. She pointed to a spot on the ground where the other scout’s bare bones lay. She explained that the Crazy Buffalo had compelled the man to desire her, and she had annihilated him.

The scout became even more frightened. The woman explained that she was Wakan and his weapons could not harm her. She explained that if he did as she instructed, no harm would befall him and that his tribe would become prosperous. The scout promised to do what she instructed. The woman told him to return to his encampment and to call for a Council and to prepare a feast for her arrival.

The woman’s name was PtesanWi which means White Buffalo Calf Woman. She taught the Lakotas many sacred rituals and gave them the sacred pipe which is the holiest of all worship symbols. After teaching the people and giving them her gifts, PtesanWi left them promising to return one day. The People would know she was coming when a white buffalo calf was born.

The image of White Buffalo Calf Woman above can be purchased at AllPosters.com.

My next post will talk about the coming of White Buffalo Calf Woman…

~Mitakuye Oyasin~ We are all related

Native American Totem Book For Children – Raven

We can teach children and should teach our children about Native American Totems along with sharing tribal stories and lore with them. Back in December of 2009, we talked about Raven as one of the birth totems. We learned that Raven is considered to be a balance between man and nature.

Raven has a story in just about every Tribal Tradition. Some look at Raven as an omen of good luck while others see him as bad luck. Brother Raven can shape-shift and sometimes in his stories he can be a bit of a trickster. For young children to learn the old stories it is helpful to read them a book with good visuals for them to relate to.

I found a book on Amazon that I think would be good to share with children ages 4 to 8. The story originated with the Pacific Coast Natives and is retold and illustrated by Gerald McDermott. It tells about how Raven brought light and warmth to the humans on Mother Earth who were living in darkness. Raven took pity on them and devises a plan.

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest

This wonderful story takes children on a picture adventure along with a story that they can easily comprehend and enjoy. It can be purchased in both hardcover or paperback.

Gerald McDermott is an award winning illustrator and weaver of tales from ancient myths and legends from many cultures. I think he helps children to not only enjoy a delightful tale but to understand different cultures and be more accepting of the differences and similarities.

Raven A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest would be a good book to begin sharing with your children or grandchildren stories of the Native American Totems.

~Mitakuye Oyasin! We are all related

Leader of the Birds – An Apache Story

As we are learning on our path of understanding there is always a story related to an animal if it becomes a part of Native American Totems.

There was a time on Mother Earth when the birds were still like people. They could hold council and talk to each other. “The different clans (animals) all have leaders, but we do not,” the birds said. “We are good for nothing. It would be good for us to choose a leader. He could then speak for us about our activities,” said the birds.

The oriole was chosen first. They said, “His feathers are very nice.” Because of his feathers they thought they wanted him to be their leader. Oriole was discussed for some time. “Well, never mind him after all,” they said. “His long clothes are pretty, but he doesn’t speak very much. If he becomes our leader he might not speak well for us in the future.” So, Oriole was not chosen as the leader of the birds.

The next choice was mocking bird. But some birds immediately said, “He is too talkative. He always speaks bad and mocks things. It would not be good for him to become our leader. He might speak even worse for us in the future.” No, Mocking Bird could not be the leader of the birds.

Bluejay was brought to attention next. “What would it be like for us if we chose him to be the leader?” a bird asked. “He is also like the other one. He talks too much. It would not be good for him to speak for us. He’s too stubborn and he also brags about himself. There would be a lot of mocking.” The birds decided against Bluejay as their leader.

“In that case, should it be the roadrunner?” a bird asked. “He’s good for sure. He would be fast for us in running to meetings. And he also talks well. It would be good for us if he became our leader.”

It was agreed that day that Roadrunner would become the Leader of All Birds until there are no more days.

Greater Roadrunner
Cornell, John

This Apache story is very much showing how people go about choosing a leader, isn’t it? I will now have to research and see if there is a Roadrunner in Native American Totems.

~Mitakuye Oyasin~ We are all related

Birch Tree: A Native American Tribal Story

A few posts back I told you of the Birch Tree and how it belongs in the Native American Totems. Today, I would like to tell you the story of Birch Tree and how it came to have the marks on its bark.

A long time ago back in the days of our ancestors, Old-Man was really hot. You see the time was of summer and the earth had become very warm, too warm. Old-Man traveled to the hilltops and it was still too hot. He traveled to the riverbed and found it too warm. Everywhere he traveled he found no relief and the traveling made him even hotter.

Old-Man called to the winds to blow so that he might feel some coolness from the breeze. The winds blew but not too hard because they feared they would make Old-Man angry.

“Blow harder, winds! Blow harder than you have ever blown before and push this heat from the world!”

The winds obeyed and blew as hard as they thought they could.

“Bend and break Fir Tree!” And the fir tree did bend and did break. “Bend and break Pine Tree!” And the pine tree did bend and break. “Spruce Tree you bend and break!” The spruce tree obeyed and bent and broke as it was commanded. “Bend and break O Birch Tree!” The birch tree bent but did not break.

“Ho, Birch Tree! Bend and break! Mind me!” All the birch tree would do was bend. It bent to the ground. It bent double trying so hard to please Old-Man, but it would not break.

Old-Man became very angry and told the winds to blow even harder and break the birch tree. The winds tried but they could not blow any harder than they were. “I tell you Birch Tree, break right now!”

“I will never break for any wind” said Birch Tree. “I will bend but I shall never break!”

This made Old-Man so angry that he went a little crazy. He took out his knife and slashed the bark of Birch Tree. He made slashes all up and down the tree in his anger.

“There! That is for not minding me! You shall look like this forever for as long as time lasts so that all will know that you refused to mind your maker! All the birch trees will look like you.”

And as you know, they do. If you have ever wondered why the Birch Tree has the marks on their bark, now you know why from this story.

Old-Man in this story represents the Great Spirit or the Creator of all things. In Native American Totems, Birch Tree helps us remember Ancient Traditions and wisdom perhaps because it always bends and never breaks.

~Mitakuye Oyasin~ We are all related