Legends, the oral histories passed down through generations, often bear the marks of time and the influence of those who hold power. The narratives of victories and defeats, of heroes and villains, are frequently reshaped and sanitized to align with the perspectives and agendas of the dominant culture. In the context of Native American history, many sacred stories have undergone transformations, sometimes subtle, sometimes profound, as they were filtered through the lens of colonization and cultural appropriation. This narrative seeks to unveil a specific instance of such alteration, concerning the revered figure of the White Buffalo Woman, with a focus on the Kiowa Apache tradition.
The narrative contends that the widely circulated accounts of the White Buffalo Woman have been significantly corrupted, even her name altered by adding the word "Calf," to include the word “Calf”. It asserts that these alterations were not accidental but rather deliberate acts intended to misrepresent her true message and purpose. The intention here is to present an accurate portrayal, a restoration of the original essence of the legend, as it was understood and lived by the Kiowa Apache people.
The core of this account revolves around the story of a small band of Kiowa Apaches, numbering thirty-six individuals, including men, women, and children. Over two thousand years ago, this group dedicated their lives to seeking truth, peace, and purity in a world rife with conflict and uncertainty. They lived a nomadic existence on the plains south of the Missouri River, in what is now South Dakota, subsisting by hunting buffalo and other game. More importantly, they devoted themselves to individual and collective reflection on the nature of life and the Creator.
One fateful day, two men from this band were scouting for buffalo when they encountered a sight that would forever alter their understanding of the world. As they approached a grazing herd, a magnificent white buffalo, seemingly floating above the ground, appeared before them. Seated upon the buffalo was a radiant woman, adorned in white skins, her dress embellished with red and blue beads, its hem a delicate light yellow. The men immediately recognized that they were in the presence of a spiritual being, a manifestation of the divine.
Overwhelmed by reverence, the hunters disregarded their original purpose and approached the herd with humility and respect. The buffalo scattered, leaving only the White Buffalo and the woman standing before them. The woman, who identified herself as Menada, communicated with them telepathically, revealing that she had come to their band because of their pure hearts and sincere dedication to the Creator.
The men led Menada back to their encampment, the White Buffalo following them without a tether. The people of the band, seemingly anticipating her arrival, greeted her with profound respect and awe. Menada remained with the Kiowa Apaches for fourteen days, imparting invaluable teachings. She spoke of the Creator’s boundless love and warned them of the insidious traps laid by the "Shadows," a metaphorical representation of negative influences that seek to lure people away from the divine.
Menada explained that the Shadows had infested creation, even their planet Earth, but that the Creator would eventually send her back, accompanied by "warriors," including seven special beings she called flying White Buffalos, to liberate humanity from their grasp. She cautioned them about the "Watchers from the sky" and instructed them to purify their spirits by avoiding hatred, jealousy, and deception. She emphasized the impermanence of the physical body and the eternal nature of the spirit, which would one day return to the Creator.
Menada further taught them about the deceptive nature of earthly rainbows, which she said were created by the Shadows to mimic the true Seven Powers and Seven Lights of their divine home. While darkness had attempted to steal the Ninth and Twelfth Powers, she stated, it had ultimately failed. She stressed that within every race and color, there are children of the Creator mingled with the children of the Shadows, and that goodness and evil exist side by side in all aspects of creation. The White Buffalo, she explained, symbolized purity and was a rare manifestation of such virtue in a world heavily influenced by the Shadows.
She warned that the White Buffalo would soon be threatened, testing the band’s devotion to the Creator. A being with a "black heart" would approach their camp, coveting the purity of the White Buffalo and attempting to corrupt their hearts. She urged them to resist the Shadows, even at the cost of their lives, and to offer the dark being another chance to walk with the Creator.
Menada revealed that she would eventually return to Earth, not necessarily to the Kiowa Apaches, but to any of the Creator’s children, regardless of their race or tribe. She would come from the south when the sun turned red and the Earth was in chaos, signaling the liberation from the Shadows. She presented them with a pipe to be kept in place of the Sacred Pipe, representing the "soul" of the Earth, and instructed them to treat it with reverence until she returned to retrieve it.
Before departing, Menada left the White Buffalo as a gift, a constant reminder of purity. She assigned the man with the split feather, a unique marking he had since childhood, the responsibility of protecting the White Buffalo, promising that her return would coincide with the joining of the split feather. She instructed them to tell their children and their children’s children about the Creator’s love and the promise of liberation from the Shadows.
As Menada walked into the moonlight, a whirlwind enveloped her, and she vanished into the air. The people, though saddened by her departure, were strengthened by her message and blessings. They spent several days in prayer and gratitude to the Creator.
After many days of prayer, a man, whom Menada had warned them about, approached their camp. He was wearing Lakota clothing, but he could speak their language. Although the Lakota were often at war with other tribes, the Kiowa Apaches, filled with White Buffalo Woman’s love, welcomed the stranger, named Kirok, as a brother. Kirok saw the beautiful White Buffalo grazing nearby and, overcome by greed, attempted to kill it with his spear. The man with the split feather intervened, saving the White Buffalo. Kirok, feigning remorse, apologized for his actions. The people, though cautious, accepted his apology and instructed him to leave at sunrise.
The next morning, Kirok departed, only to return with a large hunting party of Lakota warriors. He falsely claimed that the White Buffalo possessed great medicine and that killing it would bring power and healing to their tribe. He convinced them to massacre the Kiowa Apache encampment, promising that the power of the buffalo would increase if they killed all the people.
The Lakota warriors, driven by greed and deception, attacked the camp in the night, setting it ablaze. Despite the valiant efforts of the Kiowa Apache warriors, they were overwhelmed by the Lakota’s superior numbers. After the warriors were killed, the Lakota massacred the women and children, leaving no survivors. Kirok then jubilantly killed the White Buffalo, claiming it as a spoil of war. That evening, he ate the heart of the White Buffalo and fabricated a story about the White Buffalo and White Buffalo Woman, convincing his people that adopting the story would elevate their tribe.
This corrupted version of the legend, according to this narrative, is the one that has been passed down through generations. While there have been modifications over time, the fundamental falsehood remains.
The narrative asserts that there are Lakota people who are aware of this historical injustice, but none have dared to come forward with the truth. It claims that the White Buffalo Woman legend has been distorted to portray her as having walked among the Lakota people, rather than the Kiowa Apaches. The crucial warning about darkness and the forthcoming liberation from the Shadows has been removed, and the false claim of a direct link between the Lakota people and the Creator has been added. This type of claim, it argues, is common in other beliefs and religions around the world and is a source of much bloodshed and conflict.
The narrative concludes by reiterating that the White Buffalo Woman has indeed returned, accompanied by her seven flying White Buffalos. She has already retrieved the Sacred Pipe from the womb of the Earth, and the Creator will soon liberate all his/her children from the Shadows, guiding them to a place of eternal peace and love. The joining of the split feather symbolizes the reunification of the children with the Creator. The Sacred Drumming will soon commence, awakening the spirits of all who have remained true to the Creator.
The message of the Kiowa Apache White Buffalo Woman Legend encourages all to maintain purity in their hearts and minds while awaiting their return home to the Creator.
The spirits of those who embrace the Creator’s love will be completely healed, and they will enter the Spirit of Light, where there is no more suffering, war, or Shadows. Those who choose to follow the Shadows will remain with them until the Shadows are no more. Each individual will make their own free will choice.
The narrative concludes with the assertion that the word "Calf" should be removed from the title of White Buffalo Woman, as it was added long after she walked with the Kiowa Apaches by the Lakota people, whose marauders massacred the innocent recipients of her teachings. It is asserted that Kiowa Apache White Buffalo Woman Legend has spoken.
This account is presented as a corrective measure, an attempt to restore the Kiowa Apache White Buffalo Woman Legend to its original form, honoring the truth and setting trapped spirits free. It is a testament to the enduring power of oral tradition and the importance of preserving the integrity of sacred stories. The intention is to promote understanding, healing, and reconciliation among all people, while acknowledging the pain and injustice of the past. The core of the Kiowa Apache White Buffalo Woman Legend is a message of hope, love, and the promise of liberation from the forces of darkness.