Native Americans to celebrate white bison in Connecticut

Jacie Estes · Jul 20, 2012

GOSHEN, Conn. | The birth of a white bison, among the rarest of animals, is bringing Native Americans who consider it a sacred event to celebrate at one of the least likely of places, a farm in New England.

Hundreds of people, including tribal elders from South Dakota, are expected to attend naming ceremonies later this month at the northwestern Connecticut farm of Peter Fay, a fourth-generation Goshen farmer.

Native Americans in the area have come with gifts of tobacco and colored flags for Fay and the bull calf since it was born there a month ago, and Fay is planning to offer his hay field as a campsite for the expected crowds.

"They say it's going to bring good things to all people in the world. How can you beat that? That's the way I look at it," Fay said.

...

Marian White Mouse, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe in South Dakota, said the birth of a white bison is a sign from a prophet, the White Buffalo Calf Woman, who helped them endure times of strife and famine.

http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/lo...cle_432b219c-aa9d-514a-a7ca-aa2769ea9e25.html

Jacie Estes · Jul 20, 2012

Video of white buffalo in Connecticut:

http://www.97xonline.com/videos/news/national/rare-white-buffalo-born-in-connecticut/vcbBF/

Jacie Estes · Jul 20, 2012

To address concerns for the calf’s safety, he also has at least one person stay at the farm around the clock. Last year, a white bison calf born in Texas was found dead and skinned — a slaughter that some suspect as an anti-Indian hate crime. Fay did not want the date of the ceremonies this month publicized.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...ecticut-farm/2012/07/19/gJQAtOi0vW_story.html

Jacie Estes · Jul 20, 2012

The white buffalo or bison—Tatanka Ska in the Sioux language—was born June 16, at 1 p.m. on Peter Fay’s Mohawk Bison ranch in Goshen, Connecticut. Although Fay is not a Native and was only vaguely familiar with the story of the White Buffalo Calf Woman and the white buffalo as a spiritual symbol of sacred life and abundance to the Lakota and others, he has opened his heart and mind to the indigenous knowledge and practices that strangers have introduced into his life—sweet grass, tobacco, sage and stories of the ceremonies surrounding the birth of a white buffalo...

...The baby white buffalo was special almost from the moment he was born, Fay said. He was around 30 pounds, which is a bit smaller than usual, Fay said.

“The other bison treat him differently. Around five hours after he was born, I couldn’t find him. I looked everywhere. The next morning I went out to look for him and he was standing in a circle of big bulls,” Fay said. “He somehow got through a fence and there he got in with the bulls by mistake. Usually the bulls kill the calves if they get the chance to. It was amazing. There he was standing in a circle of big bulls.”

Read more:http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwo...ther-for-white-buffalo-naming-ceremony-121844 http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwo...-buffalo-naming-ceremony-121844#ixzz21ALz6hAa

Gardenlady · Jul 20, 2012

What an awesome story!

Im glad he is keeping details about the ceremony a bit hush hush, so hopefully the little one stays safe.

Even though I hate traveling in CT (sorry, CT folks, but your roads seem to be perpetually under construction for the last 20 years lol

) I'd hop over to Goshen for the ceremony but I have a billion things going on at the end of the month and will be out on the Cape in the opposite direction. Figures. Speaking of the Cape, I wonder if the Mashpee will be sending folks to the ceremony?

Jacie Estes · Jul 20, 2012

Gardenlady said:
What an awesome story!

Im glad he is keeping details about the ceremony a bit hush hush, so hopefully the little one stays safe.

Even though I hate traveling in CT (sorry, CT folks, but your roads seem to be perpetually under construction for the last 20 years lol ) I'd hop over to Goshen for the ceremony but I have a billion things going on at the end of the month and will be out on the Cape in the opposite direction. Figures. Speaking of the Cape, I wonder if the Mashpee will be sending folks to the ceremony?

The Mashpee have a great website:
http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com/

tlcya · Jul 20, 2012

“The other bison treat him differently. Around five hours after he was born, I couldn’t find him. I looked everywhere. The next morning I went out to look for him and he was standing in a circle of big bulls,” Fay said. “He somehow got through a fence and there he got in with the bulls by mistake. Usually the bulls kill the calves if they get the chance to. It was amazing. There he was standing in a circle of big bulls.”

ETA Everything the Power does, it does in a circle.
- Oglala Lakota

Jacie Estes · Jul 20, 2012

tlcox said:
The other bison treat him differently. Around five hours after he was born, I couldnt find him. I looked everywhere. The next morning I went out to look for him and he was standing in a circle of big bulls, Fay said. He somehow got through a fence and there he got in with the bulls by mistake. Usually the bulls kill the calves if they get the chance to. It was amazing. There he was standing in a circle of big bulls.

ETA Everything the Power does, it does in a circle.
- Oglala Lakota

So true.

I've seen one white buffalo calf, here in SD. It was already changing color, as this baby will do.

Jacie Estes · Jul 20, 2012

But even if other white buffalo have been born in modern times, Miracle holds special significance for Native Americans. She's female, and the bull that sired her died, just as in the prophesy. And, while recent visitors to the Heider farm are sometimes disappointed that the calf's head has turned brown and its body is now a silvery tan, versions of the prophesy state that the white buffalo calf would change colors four times, thus signifying the colors of the four peoples she would unify: black, red, yellow, and white.

http://www.merceronline.com/Native/native05.htm

Story of Pte San Wi, White Buffalo Calf Woman:
http://lightningmedicinecloud.com/legend.html

Herding Cats · Jul 20, 2012

Jacie, can I just say "thanks" for all the wonderful Native culture you bring here? I have always been fascinated by Native Americans, and can tenuously claim some Cherokee blood (like millions of folks, and can't prove it except by stories...), but have never been able to really delve into the culture and the beliefs of Native Americans as deeply as I'd like to.

So thanks for always providing a wonderful (and sometimes heartbreaking) glimpse into a most amazing culture...

Best-
Herding Cats
(hey, that could be my Native name...Woman who Herds Cats)

Jacie Estes · Jul 21, 2012

Herding Cats said:
Jacie, can I just say "thanks" for all the wonderful Native culture you bring here? I have always been fascinated by Native Americans, and can tenuously claim some Cherokee blood (like millions of folks, and can't prove it except by stories...), but have never been able to really delve into the culture and the beliefs of Native Americans as deeply as I'd like to.

So thanks for always providing a wonderful (and sometimes heartbreaking) glimpse into a most amazing culture...

Best-
Herding Cats
(hey, that could be my Native name...Woman who Herds Cats)

I believe that knowledge is power and attaining or giving knowledge is always powerful.

Woman who Herds Cats = Igmu Kahapa Wi [Lakota, not so literal, translation...closer to literal, Woman Who Drives Cats]

michmi · Jul 21, 2012

What a beautiful creature! Well, they're all beautiful but this little guy is gorgeous. I'm glad Mr. Fay understands there's a reason this calf was born on his farm and that he is its protector. Also just as glad he is so welcoming of the Native Americans' interest and reverence for the calf.

I was not aware of the white buffalo calf in Texas that was killed and skinned. I can only hope whoever did that gets what they deserve eventually. How awful.

tarabull · Jul 21, 2012

YES! THANKS Jacie!

It's been a long time for me...

The first time I learned about the sacred white buffalo I was introduced to Miracle, born in August, 1994...at the Heider Farm in Janesville WI...she was the first white buffalo born since 1933...Miracle's life and her changing colors have been documented at the link below. She had many calf's but sadly Miracle passed away in September of 2004...

http://whitebuffalomiracle.homestead.com/

News articles here: http://whitebuffalomiracle.homestead.com/Miracle_Walks_On_Articles.html

Another white, Miracle's Second Chance was born at the same farm in August of 2006 - but only lived a few short months

Lots of info at their website.

I recently discovered we have an entire herd of buffalo living right here on our block

I didnt know!

:heartbeat:

Jacie Estes · Jul 21, 2012

michmi said:
What a beautiful creature! Well, they're all beautiful but this little guy is gorgeous. I'm glad Mr. Fay understands there's a reason this calf was born on his farm and that he is its protector. Also just as glad he is so welcoming of the Native Americans' interest and reverence for the calf.

I was not aware of the white buffalo calf in Texas that was killed and skinned. I can only hope whoever did that gets what they deserve eventually. How awful.

I would not want to be that person. To kill something sacred for a hide. :sigh:

tarabull · Jul 21, 2012

There was an album dedicated to the White Buffalo by a local here Shannon Lyon back in 95's....within a year after Miracle was born.

Album and song of the same name Buffalo White...

http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/sly/disc.asp

http://mog.com/artists/songs/mn68239/shannon-lyon

Thanks again for taking me back...or better yet, bringing it forward.

:heartbeat:

tarabull · Jul 21, 2012

Jacie Estes said:
I would not want to be that person. To kill something sacred for a hide. :sigh:

I've come to realize we humans are the dumbest of animals.

Jacie Estes · Jul 21, 2012

tarabull said:
YES! THANKS Jacie!

It's been a long time for me...

The first time I learned about the sacred white buffalo I was introduced to Miracle, born in August, 1994...at the Heider Farm in Janesville WI...she was the first white buffalo born since 1933...Miracle's life and her changing colors have been documented at the link below. She had many calf's but sadly Miracle passed away in September of 2004...

http://whitebuffalomiracle.homestead.com/

News articles here: http://whitebuffalomiracle.homestead.com/Miracle_Walks_On_Articles.html

Another white, Miracle's Second Chance was born at the same farm in August of 2006 - but only lived a few short months

Lots of info at their website.

I recently discovered we have an entire herd of buffalo living right here on our block

I didnt know!

:heartbeat:

There are several white buffalo calves whose birthes were never made public. I know of 2 of them, it's easier for the herd owner and safer for the calf.

tarabull · Jul 21, 2012

Jacie Estes said:
There are several white buffalo calves whose birthes were never made public. I know of 2 of them, it's easier for the herd owner and safer for the calf.

I completely understand...

snipped from the link above: Miracle was born snow white on Aug. 20, [94]. Since then more than 20,000 people have come to see her, and the gate to the Heider's pasture and the trees next to it are now covered with offerings: feathers, necklaces and pieces of colorful cloth as well as personal notes and the occasional medal won in Vietnam.

(written Dec 1994)

Jacie Estes · Jul 28, 2012

The miracle calf was officially named Yellow Medicine Dancing Boy at Saturday's elaborate ceremony at the Mohawk Bison farm in Goshen in the state's northwestern hills.

http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/hu...cle_5d2eb94e-205b-58bc-ac73-463dbb123cf8.html

Gardenlady · Jul 28, 2012

Another article with a few more details:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/28/hundreds-gather-in-conn-to-name-rare-white-bison/

Native Americans to celebrate white bison in Connecticut

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