Nourish the Word

Part 1 of this series can be found here. Understanding part 1 will be essential to understanding this second part, which deals with the symbolic identity of White Buffalo Calf Woman. Other than the meaning behind the sacred pipe to symbolically identify her, we have two other things. The account of Black Elk tells us that she is wakan, or sacred/holy/divine. She is a heavenly type of being. Secondly, accounts of her visit demonstrate that the man with “bad intentions” towards her could not accomplish his design. “Early one morning, very many winters ago, two Lakota were out hunting with their bows and arrows, and as they were standing on a hill looking for game, they saw in the distance something coming towards them in a very strange and wonderful   manner. When this mysterious thing came nearer to them, they saw that it was a very beautiful woman, dressed in white buckskin, and bearing a bundle on her back. Now this woman was so good to look at that one of the...

“We have been told by the white men, or at least by those who are Christian, that God sent to men His son, who would restore order and peace upon the earth; and we have been told that Jesus the Christ was crucified, but that he shall come again at the Last Judgment, the end of this world or cycle. This I understand and know that it is true, but the white men should know that for the red people too, it was the will of Wakan-Tanka , the Great Spirit, that an animal turn itself into a two-legged person in order to bring the most holy pipe to His people; and we too were taught that this White Buffalo Cow Woman who brought our sacred pipe will appear again at the end of this “world,” a coming which we Indians know is now not very far off.” Black Elk, The Sacred Pipe , p.xix Since reading these words from Black Elk, the legend of White Buffalo Calf Woman has been on my mind a lot. It seemed very important that I understand her and what she represents better. I’ve made earli...