Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th-generation Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, will perform a releasing of the buffalo spirits ceremony at noon Tuesday in Gardiner near Yellowstone National Park's Stephens Creek corrals.
The event, open to the public, is sponsored by Buffalo Field Campaign and Seventh Generation Fund's Tatanka Oyate Project.
In a written statement, Looking Horse said the ceremony would be conducted because of the large number of bison sent to slaughter by the Park Service under the Interagency Bison Management Plan. About one-third of the park's bison population have been killed this winter, the most ever under the management plan. At last count, a total of 1,510 bison have been killed, including 166 taken by tribal and state hunters in Montana.
"These buffalo that lost their lives in Yellowstone did not die by natural law, nor were their spirits honored with ceremony," Looking Horse wrote. "This is why we must go there to perform a ceremony of honor for those that lost their lives by the misunderstanding of humankind and pray to Wakan Tankan (Great Spirit) for pity of how gifts were unappreciated.
"I humbly ask for all people to make prayers on April 15th, at high noon; for a healing of humanity for the decisions that are being made with no regard for the sacredness of life, for the massacred buffalo's spiritual journey and to protect what is left in understanding of what our journey in this life represents in being responsible," Looking Horse wrote.
The ceremony will be held on Stephens Creek Road and Old Yellowstone Trail, west of the Yellowstone River, 2 1/2 miles north of Gardiner. The ceremony will be followed by a community meal at the Eagles Hall Gardiner Community Center, 206 Main St., co-hosted by the Bear Creek Council.
Published on Friday, April 11, 2008. Last modified on 4/11/2008 at 12:28 pm
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That is the way of the White Man. He appreciates nothing and depreciates everything. 19th generation Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe. Now that is some history and tradition! The buffalo were here long before the cattle and the White Man. It is the cattle and the ranchers that pose the threat to the very existence of the buffalo and not the other way around. Angryhank, you are right, buffalo is good eating but just think about the tens of thousands that were slaughter just because it was fun. The Native Americans used everything the Buffalo had to offer. This animal is vary sacred to them yet the White Man has made it an evil creature. It is sad and rude that one must make jokes about such an animal and the people that hold it in the highest esteem.
Ok, MikeL and Socrates, no where in my first post did I make any comments about Mr. Looking Horse. I have no issues with him or his spirituality, or the regard that he holds buffalo in. This is another ploy of white people exploiting the Native Americans. The Buffalo Field Campaign is nothing more than a group of eco-nazis. They are using the feel good aspect of Mr. Looking Horse's spirituality to help spread their propaganda. The Buffalo Field Campaign spreads some truths, a lot of half-truths, and some out right non-truths. I know they have the right to assemble on public lands for their cause, and a part of me respects them for that. However, when they get to their passive aggresive protest, such as the two women at the visitor's center, they have crossed a line. Personally, after this protest and criminal activity on federal land, that was sanctioned by the Buffalo Field Campaign as proven by the groups website, this group should not be allowed access to federal property. Oh, and Socrates, as long as you are griping about the buffalo being there before cattle, why don't we ask the Native Americans how they feel about both your ancestors and mine coming to this country.
Well Angryhank; I can answer that for you WE DON'T LIKE IT! The protest that those girls did in the park was a non-violent, non-destructive, protest. You have a problem with people speaking out and acting out against stupid Government policies? My ancestors have DIED so those girls could have the right to do just what they did. With no harm or destruction to anyone or anything.
You don't seem to understand that the Bison was and is a very important part of the Native American culture and way of life. And who are you to sit there and make snide remarks because a people are expressing their religious beliefs.
You are a perfect example of the fly on plow handle in the manure pile.
I really appreciate this ceremony and all. And much respect to Mr. LookingHorse. This statement in no way is disrespect to him or his tribe. However, I think the people of Yellowstone National Park are forgetting that historically this is Crow Land. Given up in the Crow treaties long past. They need to start having Crow Indians going in to perform ceremonies.
Well Pest answer me this, where exactly was my attack on someone's religious beliefs? As far as the girls go, you are absolutely correct, it was non-violent, and non-destructive, yet illegal non the less. The ones disrespecting the spiritual values are the Buffalo Field Campaign. They are the ones exploiting then Native Americans this time. They are the ones using Mr. Looking Horse for their own personal gains. PS. Bucky, don't even get me started on Bush/Cheney, I think you might be surprised how wrong you are.
"angryhank", it pains me to agree with you, unfortunately, your views this time are dead on. The Buffalo Field Campaign is exploiting the spiritualality of this Native American event for their own agenda. If anyone should be ashamed of their actions this time around it is the Buffalo Field Campaign.
How can you say that the Buffalo field Campaign is exploiting when the co-founder is Rosalie Little Thunder?
As to the Crow comment, Is there a Chief in the Crow Nation that is the Keeper of the White buffalo Calf Pipe? If so what is stopping them from joining in?
Your remark about the Ceremony, was SNIDE and you know it, angryhank.
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