While watching, listen to and learn as much as you can from these incredible speakers! They will change your perspectives about music forever! Indigenous People Celebrate Birth of Rare White BuffaloMax Matza of BBC News Seattle reports: One of America’s smallest native animal, with creamy-colored fur and jet-black eyes, made an unexpected entrance this month: its birth in June was an extremely rare occurrence that advocates hope will create momentum to revive species on America’s Great Plains for decades-long recovery efforts.Many tribes regard white bison births as sacred signs that signal change ahead. This herd has become an iconic cultural symbol – they represent North America’s last remaining wild buffalo herd. The herd has entered a new stage of its existence as its management is once more being overseen by indigenous communities, while advocates strive to increase bison populations. Once an abundance species, bison once reached millions before being driven near-extinct during the 1800s. Today, America only has a single wild herd that numbers about 5,000 animals; but tribes and bison advocates see an opportunity in Yellowstone National Park’s consideration of an expansion plan for its wild herd in recent decades. White calves hold special spiritual meaning for buffalo advocates who wish to challenge longstanding government policies that prioritize beef ranching over native tribal beliefs. Jordan Creech of Yellowstone Photography Guide was out sightseeing with clients when he witnessed an amazing prophecy come true on 4 June at around noon: Jordan noticed a newly born white buffalo calf taking its first steps across Lamar Valley within two minutes after its birth, running alongside its herd within seven. Bison calves can typically start walking within this period. “This was truly unforgettable for me,” Creech remarks. Similarly, Erin Braaten, an Native American photographer residing in Kalispell Montana witnessed its initial moments before it joined its herd of female cows for milking and breastfeeding. As she moved away, an abundance of buffalo returned to feed their people. Dozens of other tribes also tell similar tales regarding white buffalo’s arrival as both blessing and warning; Chief Arvol Looking Horse of Lakota Tribe has become the 19th generation Keeper of Sacred Bundle given by White Buffalo Woman; his bundle includes pipe left behind from her spirit. He likens the return of a white buffalo calf as being similar to Christ returning. Looking Horse, 70, related that before her passing she told everyone that she would return as a white buffalo calf when everything became unhealthy and people became unwelcoming and disloyal to each other; and then this spirit returned in its true form.” This spirit lives among us.” “Spirit is happening,” he explained.On 26 June, over 500 supporters came together at an event outside Yellowstone National Park near West Yellowstone to honor this landmark event and to pay their respects to nearly 12 tribes represented therein. Collectively, they heard the name chosen for the calf: Wakan Gli (meaning “Sacred Returns or Comes Holy in Lakota language. An altar with three buffalo skulls and three buffalo robes marked this special event. Waemaetekosew Waupekenay, 38, traveled all the way from Wisconsin on behalf of Menominee Tribe. Waemaetekosew found out through spiritual visioning how birth of sacred calf has been an incredible spiritual awakening: showing “there’s lots of healing going around as well as love.” His arrival he notes was remarkable. People are coming together in unity. “Buffalo Field CampaignAn altar was set up during this event to honor and remember a white bison’s birth at Yellowstone National Park; however, park rangers have yet to report sightings by themselves.” “Yellowstone National Park Service recently recognized a landmark event in their ecocultural recovery of wild bison populations: The birth of a white bison calf born outside its enclosure” on 28 June as they confirmed it as its inaugural white bison ever seen inside Yellowstone. Furthermore they suggested this may reflect “an unsuspected natural genetic legacy present among its bison which may now manifest through successful recovery of wild populations of this animal”. “The National Park Services recognizes the cultural and emotional significance of white bison calves for American Indians,” according to its press release. Yellowstone bison make up one of only three wild herds remaining genetically pure herds in existence in North America and are commonly seen within Yellowstone National Park – often exceeding their legal capacity of 5,000 individuals at any one time. Tribes who support the growth of species have come forward, believing its health depends on them as much as on any one other factor. Since 2019, the US National Park Service has transferred 414 healthy bison from Yellowstone through their Bison Conservation Transfer Program to 26 tribes located throughout 12 states, as part of an indigenous peoples distribution system independent from park efforts. Since 1992, The Intertribal Buffalo Council – an alliance of 83 tribes working to restore cultural, spiritual and historical relationships between bison herds and humans – has distributed 25,000 bison across 65 herds on tribal lands across 22 states. Since 1994, this park has not proposed an increase in herd size since up to 60 million American buffalo were slaughtered as part of its development and consolidation as an American frontier territory. The size and growth of their herd are all the more noteworthy when considered against such staggering figures as upkeep of an open frontier could kill millions upon millions more American bison during that same time span. Cam Sholly, Yellowstone Park Superintendent told the New York Times last year: “Bison are our sole species that are restricted by boundaries; however, tribes believe the arrival of white calves indicates more needs to be done to support bison populations. ” Yellowstone provides this calf with extra spiritual significance: according to Chief Looking Horse, Yellowstone Herd are “some of the purest, wildest buffalo in existence, as the last remnant in America”, serving as a powerful statement from Mother Earth through animal nation. “Bullfalo Field Campaign
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