Sacred buffalo calf offers hope amid efforts to revive species

A rare white buffalo calf was born in Yellowstone National Park, and its arrival has sparked hope and excitement among many people, especially Native American tribes. This calf is particularly special because white buffaloes are extremely rare. Many Native American tribes consider the birth of a white buffalo to be a sacred omen that signifies change. The herd that this calf was born into is the last wild buffalo herd in North America, making it an important cultural symbol.

Historically, the American buffalo, also known as bison, once roamed the Great Plains in the tens of millions. However, in the 1800s, their numbers were drastically reduced, bringing them to the brink of extinction. Today, the only wild herd in the US is limited to about 5,000 animals. The birth of this white calf has given new momentum to efforts aimed at reviving the species. Yellowstone National Park is considering a proposal to expand the size of the wild herd for the first time in decades.

The white calf also holds spiritual significance for buffalo advocates, as it challenges long-standing government policies that prioritize beef ranching over the beliefs of Native American tribes. On June 4th, a Yellowstone photography guide named Jordan Creech spotted the freshly-born white buffalo calf taking its first steps in the park's Lamar Valley. Bison calves can walk within minutes of being born and can run alongside their herd shortly after. Erin Braaten, a photographer of Native American descent, also witnessed the calf's first moments of life. The calf was named Wakan Gli, meaning Sacred Returns in the Lakota language.

The birth of the white calf was celebrated by more than 500 supporters at an event in West Yellowstone on June 26th. Nearly a dozen tribes were represented at the celebration, where they heard the calf's name and honored it with an altar of three buffalo skulls and three buffalo robes. Waemaetekosew Waupekenay, who attended the event on behalf of the Menominee Tribe, described the birth of the sacred calf as a spiritual awakening. He believes that its arrival signifies healing and unity among people.

Yellowstone National Park confirmed the birth of the white bison calf, calling it a landmark event in the ecocultural recovery of bison. The park stated that the white calf might reflect a natural genetic legacy preserved in Yellowstone's bison. The Yellowstone bison are among the last genetically pure bison in existence, and the park regularly reaches its legally-permitted capacity of 5,000 animals.

Tribes who support the growth of the bison population believe that the species' health is closely tied to their own history. Since 2019, the US National Park Service has transferred 414 healthy bison from Yellowstone to 26 tribes in 12 states through the Bison Conservation Transfer Program. Native people also have their own distribution system to share buffalo independently of the park's efforts. The Intertribal Buffalo Council, a collective of 83 tribes, has sent 25,000 bison to 65 herds on tribal lands in 22 states since 1992.

The return of buffalo to Native American tribes marks a significant change in federal policy. In the past, soldiers were ordered to kill buffalo to deprive tribes of food and supplies. Now, the government is working with tribes to help the buffalo population grow. Yellowstone National Park has completed an environmental impact study and determined that the herd size should increase from 5,000 to 6,000, with the potential to accommodate up to 10,000 bison.

The birth of the white calf is seen as proof that more needs to be done to support bison. The Yellowstone herd is considered the most pure and wild in the country. Chief Arvol Looking Horse, a spiritual leader of the Lakota Tribe, believes that the birth of the white calf is a message from Mother Earth. He hopes that this event will bring more attention to the importance of protecting the buffalo and their natural habitat.