White Buffalo Woman (Pte San Win), vii, 54, 56, 57, 65, 66–67, 123, Color Plate 2
— color changes for, 136-37
— return of, 69
— spirit of, 59
— story of, 2–3, 16–19, 46, 48–49, 52–53, 60-61
White robe, 26, 27
Wilson, Gilbert, 24
Winter count robe, 27–28, 29
"Wiping of tears" ceremony, 55
Women of the White Buffalo Society, Color Plate 1
World Day, Miracle and, 131
Wounded Knee, 45, 111
"wiping of tears" ceremony at, 55
Y
Yellow Spider, white buffalo hide and, 30
Yellowstone National Park
— bison at, 95
— poaching in, 98
COLOR PLATES
[1] Karl Bodmer's painting entitled Women of the White Buffalo Society is one of the most striking examples of the ceremonial use of white buffalo hides recorded in the nineteenth century. (Courtesy Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska)
[2] The story of White Buffalo Woman (Pte San Win) continues to be a powerful force in the life of many American Indians. The birth of Miracle has been seen as a fulfillment of the promise that she made to the Lakota to return in times of need. (Buffalo Calf Woman by Oscar Howe, University of South Dakota Collection, © Adelheid Howe, 1982)
[3] Modern bison exhibit a wide range of colors, including shades of brown, red, and black. A diversity of color and variety of color patterns have always been evident in North American bison herds. (© DMNH/Nancy Jenkins)
[4] This painted image on a canyon wall in Texas shows a man and a dancing bison or, very likely, another man in a bison cape. The image is possibly a buffalo shaman or impersonator (© Robert W Parvin)
[5] With a pure white coat and dark eyes and muzzle, Miracle was born on the Heider farm inJanesville, Wisconsin, in August 1994. The birth of a female white buffalo calf, highly revered by Plains Indian tribes, is considered by many to be a prophetic event foretold in Indian myth. (© David and Valerie Heider)
[6] Miracle's birth attracted worldwide media attention, and in two years some 75,000 peopleboth Indian and non-Indianhave visited the Heider farm to see her: (© David and Valerie Heider)
[7] Miracle has changed colors four times in the first two years of her life-from white to black (above), to cinnamon red.
[8]. and then yellow (above). Some tribal elders predict she will turn back to white. (Top © Inter-Tribal Bison Cooperative; Bottom © David and Valerie Heider)
Albinism occurs in most animal species.
[9] Although uncommon, albino squirrels are found throughout the United States. They have the telltale pink eyes, nose, and light skin that is typical of albinism. (©DeanneD. Cunningham)
[10] An albino red-winged blackbird is a rarity. Instead of black feathers, this one has white plumage, and the normally brilliant scarlet patch on the wing is a faded red. (© DMNH/Rick Wicker)
[11] An albino buffalo calf was born on the Shirek ranch in North Dakota during the summer of 1996. Note the pink eyes and ivory-colored muzzle and hooves. (© Dan Shirek)
[12] Also during the summer of 1996, two partially white buffalo calves were born on the ranch of veterinarian Gerald Parsons in Oklahoma. Both have similar colorationwhite legs, underbelly, and throat. (Courtesy Gerald W Parsons)