Native American Buffalo
The Icon, Mainstay and Staple of the Native American Plains

The Native Americans have legends about the White Buffalo, whose appearance is extremely rare. It is said that a white buffalo appeared in the form of a woman who wore white hides. One man was respectful toward her, and the other was not. The one who was not was turned into a pile of bones. She gave the respectful brave a pipe and taught him special music. She also taught him various rituals and said that she would someday return in an era of peace. Many people cling to this legend of White Buffalo Woman as a hope that there will be an end to suffering, whereas others think that it is merely an interesting tale. Many experts find parallels between the white buffalo legend and other religions and traditions.

The Native American buffalo, in general, is a very much respected part of American Indian life. Every part of the buffalo was used to provide Native Americans with food, clothing, shelter and weapons. It was considered quite disrespectful to waste any part of the Native American buffalo or to kill it for sport, as many of the white men did. Because of the excessive hunting of white men, the buffalo in North America nearly died out. When President Grover Cleveland made hunting buffalo illegal in 1893, there were only 300 left.

Edward S. Curtis’ recollection of The Demise of the Buffalo from "Notes from The North American Indian - Volume 3", lowest box on the bottom left of the page "Major Subject and Articles".

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