American Indians celebrate white buffalo's birthday

By Rebekah Sungala

FARMINGTON - For American Indians, the white buffalo represents unity. Kenahkihinen, whose name means "watch over us," was born at Woodland Zoo last year on Nov. 12.

In celebration of his first birthday, tribes from across the United States came together Sunday to pay reverence to the white buffalo. Kenahkihinen, joined by his mother and two other buffalos, came out of their shelter and trotted around the enclosure to the rhythmic beat of drums.

Approximately 200 people were in attendance for the celebration. Running Bear, a member of the Lakota tribe who lives at the zoo and helps care for the buffalo and other animals, said Kenahkihinen enjoys the attention.

"He was out dancing around to the beat," Running Bear said. According to Running Bear, the white buffalo is a sacred animal that represents unity and peace. Kenahkihinen has brought unity to people, Running Bear said, noting the different tribes -Lakota, Cherokee and Blackfoot - represented at Sunday's celebration.

Running Bear said at one point in time the tribes were warring and at odds with each other, but the birth of a white buffalo, throughout the centuries, has brought them together in peace. The belief of the sacred white buffalo comes from the American Indian legend of the White Buffalo Woman, a prophetess sent to her people by the Creator to teach them how to communicate with the deity through the prayer pipe.

Running Bear said the White Buffalo Woman appeared to two brothers, Sioux Indian scouts, who saw the beautiful woman walking in the distance. One of the brothers approached her, wanting to marry her, but was transformed into a pile of bones from which snakes evolved after being wrapped in the woman's cloak. Running Bear said the man died because he did not show respect to the woman.

The woman told the other brother, who behaved rightly, that he was to return to his tribe and tell his people she would return with a message from the buffalo nation. The Sioux were to prepare a lodge with a door facing to the east for her arrival, which they did, Running Bear said. When the White Buffalo Woman returned, she brought with her a prayer pipe and taught the people how to use it, teaching them how to respect and behave toward those things that are sacred.

Running Bear said that when the woman left, walking off in the same direction from which she came, she stopped and rolled over several times and a white buffalo calf appeared in the dust. American Indians still wait for the return of the White Buffalo Woman, Running Bear said, noting that a white buffalo is the most sacred living thing a person can encounter. Running Bear said several thousand people have visited the zoo and paid their respect to Kenahkihinen.

Sonny Herring, zoo owner, said the white buffalo is doing well and weighs between 700 and 800 pounds. He will be considered a mature adult at the age of 2, he said. The birth of a white buffalo occurs in about one in 10 million births. Herring said Kenahkihinen will continue to live in the same enclosure with his mother and another female buffalo, who recently gave birth. Despite the recent addition to the buffalo herd, Kenahkihinen continues to attract the most attention from zoo visitors.

Running Bear said people of all nationalities and religions are welcome at the zoo to observe, with respect, the white buffalo. "All people are welcome to come here, sit on Mother Earth and pray. To know peace," he said. "It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from. The white buffalo brings unity."