Rare white buffalo born in North Texas

As legend goes, chances are one in 10 million that a white buffalo will ever enter this world.
So, what are the chances it would happen in North Texas on an Indian-owned ranch that has a symbolic white buffalo sculpture at the entrance gate? Well, it happened. The white buffalo was born two weeks ago during the intense power of a driving thunderstorm.
The white buffalo was born on Arby Little Soldier’s ranch in Hunt County. Little Soldier is part Mandan Indian, part Lakota; he says he is also a great grandson of Sitting Bull.
“I’m proud that he is here in Greenville,” he said.
While all the other buffaloes on Little Soldier’s ranch belong to him, he said the white one belongs to all people and nations. He believes, and custom dictates, that the animal’s existence is a powerful message, but its meaning is not yet known.
The white calf’s unknown prophecy will be interpreted by native elders, who are expected to convene at the ranch later this month. At that time, as is custom, they'll also give the white calf a proper and fitting name.
"I look out there as I’m mowing or fixing a fence and I look at him and he’s just playing like a young child and I say, ‘My four-legged brother, some day you’ll be speaking to us and you’re words are strong,” Little Soldier said.
But for now, he is small and Little Soldier says the older buffalo are quick to circle the white calf when a stranger comes near.
"They’re protecting him,” he said.
It's something they don't do for the calf's half-brother, "Curly," born just two days earlier.
Like the older buffalo, Little Soldier does not take lightly his responsibility to care for the white buffalo until it reaches maturity at age two.
“He was sent here for a reason,” Little Soldier said. "I guess, spiritually, I was ready."

Here's the link to this story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/White-Buffalo-Born-in-North-Texas--A-Powerful-Rare-Symbol-to-Indian-People-123057048.html

Actually, they're not as rare as you might think... there's a small gathering of about 11 white buffalo on a ranch in... Colorado, I think. The most recent one has brown eyes and a black nose, rather than the pink eyes/nose of the others. What's rare (or rareist) are the ones which change colour according to the Four Sacred Directions.

[Spiritlite]

NIce I love white buffalo to me they feel so powerfully spiritual.
Spiritlite.

Thank you Enya. I did read about the white herd. From what I understand a white buffalo being born among all brown & not being albino makes it special. I am watching for the follow up of the elder's meeting. I found this to be interesting even if it turns out not to mean much. I have always loved the buffalo since reading about them in history. It made me sad how they slaughtered them. I keep thinking how our world is still so uncivilized. I will read up on it more & will post back after the elders meet. Hopefully it will be public news.

theres one in the calgary zoo, it seemed to really like my friend LOL

The native lore if i remember right, states a girl changed into one, and is reborn again once in a while....

Also (ironicly), the ted nugent song - great white buffalo, comes to mind (great tune!)

[nephesh]

He or she is cute.

[Spiritlite]

Beautiful is more like it ;0)
Spiritlite.

Here is a you tube video by Bill Means, an AIM member, about the legend of White Buffalo Calf Woman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezNKgRbnVPY

Follow up to white buffalo story
Here’s the link

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g-lCc1-zgb-TLzQh80o-YA3SzD3A?docId=8332b2fa55ea4958bc2b5c47b9ac80d1

Lightning Medicine: Rare white buffalo calf named
By LINDA STEWART BALL, Associated Press – 3 hours ago
GREENVILLE, Texas (AP) — Thousands of people came from miles around Wednesday to see and honor a legend in the flesh — the white buffalo born in a thunderstorm on a northeast Texas ranch.
The rare white buffalo calf, regarded as sacred by Lakota Sioux tradition, was honored with Native American prayers, religious songs and the solemn smoking of a pipe in a special naming and dedication ceremony at the Lakota Ranch in Greenville, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas.
Flag-flying patriotism, a steady Native American drum beat and scorching heat provided the backdrop for the spiritual event that drew about 2,000.
The calf was named Lightning Medicine Cloud — a reference to the thunderstorm that marked the arrival of his birth as well as a tribute to a white buffalo born in 1933 named Big Medicine.
According to Lakota Sioux tradition, Whope, the goddess of peace, once appeared in the form of a white buffalo calf. Some say the goddess will return once four such calves are born.
But whether the Greenville, Texas, calf was the third of its kind ever born or the first male in 150 years wasn't immediately clear.
But all agreed that the birth of such a calf was unusual and stressed that it was not an albino, given its dark nose, eyes and marking on the tip of its tail. Several who spoke at the ceremony said they considered it a blessing.
"He's the hope of all nations," said Arby Little Soldier, upon whose land the calf was born on May 12. "The red man, black man, white man and yellow man; we've all got to come together as one."
Unity and peace were major themes, as was respect for the environment and the notion that all living things are interdependent.
The white buffalo is an omen that signifies the arrival of hard times unless people learn to change their ways and live in a manner that benefits everyone, including Mother Earth, according to literature distributed at the entrance gate.
"It's the beginning of a new age, new times," said Samuel Joseph Lone Wolf, a Native American elder from Palestine, who played an important role in Wednesday's ceremony. "The birth of the white buffalo calf, it tells us we need to get right, not just with Mother Nature but with all nations and with the Creator, which is God."
Some tourists complained that it was difficult to see much of the ceremony unless one was on the front row. There were no bleachers or big screens upon which events were featured. One white woman, seemingly disappointed by the program's length beneath the hot sun: "I think they're going to keep going until all the pale faces faint."
But another said she was just grateful to be there.
Bonnie Greenwood said she and her husband live down the road and see the buffalo all the time as they drive by.
"We wanted to be sure to be here for this," said Greenwood, who sported a bright orange Buffalo bison T-shirt from her high school alma mater and brought their 9-year-old granddaughter from Oklahoma to also witness the ceremony.
After Little Soldier rode a horse around a corralled area and threw a lance into the ground, making the area as sacred, the crowds surged forward as the small herd of buffalo was let loose with the small white buffalo among them.
"He's beautiful," said Angela Hope, who drove up from San Antonio to pay homage. "He's a spiritual gift."
To commemorate the occasion, tourists could buy everything from Lightning Medicine Cloud T-shirts and caps, glossy photos of the white bison and even buffalo meat made from Lightning's darker relatives.
Arby Little Soldier and several other leaders are charged with caring for the calf. When Lightning Medicine Cloud turns 2, another ceremony will be held and other prophecies revealed, said Patricia Little Soldier, Arby's wife.
"When do you think you'll get another white buffalo?" 13-year-old Tristen Scott from Virginia asked Arby Little Soldier.
The calf's caretaker sighed as he patiently explained that the odds were against that happening any time soon. "What are your chances of winning the lottery?" Little Soldier said.
On the Net:

• http://www.lightningmedicinecloud.com

Yes that wonderful and unigue !!!
plus was a great movie with Charles Bronson, if one can find it...think it's out of print...?