Seeing the White Buffalo

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I spotted the story in The Denver Post. On August 20, 1994, a pure white buffalo calf had been born on a small farm in Wisconsin. I was aware of the significance of the white buffalo to numerous Indian tribes; it was considered sacred and had been revered by Plains Indians for centuries. Told and retold through generations, the story of White Buffalo Woman prophesied that she would return to Indian peoples in times of need. The birth of a female white buffalo was a rare and portentous event.

I finished my morning tea and called Karen Sekich, executive director of the American Bison Association, to see what she knew. Karen and I had been working together to develop an exhibit on the American bison for the Denver Museum of Natural History, where I am curator of anthropology. She had already spoken with the Heiders, the owners of the herd, and knew many of the details. Her conversation with the Heiders, however, was different from most calls from people claiming the birth of a white buffalo, which, if authentic, would be a highly valued and valuableanimal.

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