A tale spun from the threads of ancient oral tradition, The Buffalo Wife offers a glimpse into a world where the boundaries between the human and animal realms blur, where respect for nature is paramount, and where the consequences of greed and lust are dire. It’s a story rich in symbolism, reflecting the beliefs and values of the Native American culture from which it originates. This narrative, though seemingly simple on the surface, delves into complex themes of transgression, reconciliation, and the delicate balance between humanity and the natural world.
The story begins with a man driven by a singular desire: eagle feathers. These feathers, imbued with spiritual significance, were highly valued for ceremonial purposes. Driven by this desire, the man ventures to an eagle’s nest, a sacred space where he finds four helpless young eaglets. In a shocking act of disrespect and violence, he plucks the feathers from their wings, disregarding the sanctity of life and the natural order.
His transgression doesn’t go unnoticed. The parent eagle, enraged by the man’s cruelty, attacks him. A fierce struggle ensues, culminating in the tragic death of the eagle at the man’s hands. The man, now a murderer as well as a thief, believes he has achieved his goal. However, his troubles are far from over.
The eagle’s demise draws the attention of Big-Eagle, the chief of the eagles, a powerful and imposing figure who embodies the spirit of justice and retribution. Big-Eagle swiftly pursues the man, seizing him by the head and carrying him to a desolate mountaintop. There, perched precariously on a crag, the man is left to face the consequences of his actions, exposed to the elements and the gnawing pangs of starvation.
For ten long days, the man endures his punishment, a testament to the severity of his crimes against nature. Finally, Big-Eagle returns, not to deliver further punishment, but to offer a chance at redemption. He provides the man with two feathers from each wing of the eagles, a symbolic gesture of forgiveness and a chance to restore balance. Big-Eagle then transports him to a buffalo trail, offering specific instructions for navigating the path ahead.
The eagle’s guidance is crucial. He warns the man that he will encounter an old buffalo-chief, a wild and potentially dangerous creature. The key to survival, Big-Eagle instructs, is not to flee in fear, but to approach the buffalo with respect and humility. He tells the man to place one of the eagle feathers in the buffalo’s head, a gesture that will signify his remorse and prevent harm.
The man follows the eagle’s instructions precisely. As predicted, he encounters the old buffalo-chief, a magnificent beast radiating power and untamed energy. He approaches cautiously and places the eagle feather in the buffalo’s head. The buffalo, appeased by the offering, acknowledges the man’s presence and provides further instructions. He tells the man that he will encounter another wild buffalo and must repeat the gesture, placing a feather in its head as well.
The man obeys, demonstrating his willingness to learn and follow the wisdom of the animal spirits. The second buffalo then reveals that his youngest brother is approaching and must also be offered a feather. This sequence of encounters highlights the importance of respecting all living creatures, regardless of their age or perceived threat.
The youngest buffalo, initially poised to attack, is pacified by the offering of the feather. He then provides the man with a crucial piece of information: at the end of the road, the man will find a spring and the tracks of a buffalo cow. The bull cautions the man not to reveal his knowledge of the tracks to the cow.
Upon reaching the spring, the man’s hunger gets the better of him. He expresses his desire for buffalo kidneys and feet, unknowingly speaking his thoughts aloud. The buffalo cow, whose presence he was meant to keep secret, appears and confronts him, revealing her ability to hear his thoughts. Despite his attempt to deny his words, the cow declares her intention to take him home as her husband.
Thus begins the man’s life among the buffalo people. He is taken to their camp and presented with his brother-in-law’s kidneys to eat, a seemingly strange offering that signifies his acceptance into the buffalo family. He becomes an observer of their ways, learning about their traditions and their connection to the land.
The Indians, meanwhile, are preparing for a buffalo hunt, constructing a buffalo-pound, a corral used to trap and kill the animals. The man’s father-in-law instructs him not to look outside his tent during the hunt. However, the man’s curiosity gets the better of him. He peeks outside and witnesses his brother chasing buffalo.
Inspired by the hunt, the man decides to participate. He crafts bows and arrows, declaring his intention to catch buffalo as well. The next morning, he visits the Indian camp and distributes two arrows to each man. With his help, the Indians are able to kill a large number of buffalo.
This event marks a turning point in the story. The man, having been accepted into the buffalo community, now participates in their hunting practices, seemingly integrating himself into their way of life. However, his actions also contribute to the disruption of the natural balance, as the buffalo hunt, while necessary for survival, also carries the potential for over-exploitation.
In a seemingly unrelated episode, the man gathers various types of food – grass, willow leaves, and other vegetation – and asks the old buffalo what he would prefer to eat. The buffalo chooses grass. He then repeats the process with a moose, who chooses willow leaves, a bear, who chooses berries and roots, and a deer, who chooses grass and leaves. This episode explains how the animals came to have their preferred diets, highlighting the man’s role as a mediator between the human and animal worlds.
The man’s life becomes even more complex as he takes a buffalo-wife and has a calf with her. He also marries a moose-woman, creating a volatile dynamic fueled by jealousy and rivalry. His brother, Magpie, lusts after one of the wives, further complicating the situation.
One day, while the man is out hunting, Magpie instigates a race between the two wives. The buffalo-woman initially wins, but during the second race, the moose-woman sabotages her by creating a mudhole in her path. The buffalo-woman gets stuck in the mud and loses the race.
Enraged by the moose-woman’s deceit, the buffalo-woman leaves her husband and returns to her father, taking her calf with her. When the man returns home, he discovers that his buffalo-wife is gone and sets out to pursue her.
Upon reaching the buffalo camp, the man is met with hostility. The old buffalo, angered by the man’s mistreatment of his daughter, initiates a buffalo dance. During the dance, the buffalo trample the man to death, exacting revenge for his betrayal.
Magpie, concerned by his brother’s prolonged absence, sets out to find him. The buffalo-calf reveals the truth: his father has been killed by the buffalo. Magpie searches for his brother’s remains and eventually finds a small piece of his hair. Using his powers, he restores his brother to life.
The resurrected man, fueled by vengeance, instructs the calf to tell his grandfather to gather all the buffalo. A battle is imminent. The moose-woman, fearing for her safety, cries out in alarm. Magpie, however, remains calm and requests red iron. He chews the iron and spits it into the air, creating an iron house to protect them from the buffalo.
The buffalo charge against the iron house, but are unable to penetrate its defenses. Many of them are killed in the attempt, while others flee in terror. The man and his family are safe, protected by Magpie’s magic.
In a bizarre turn of events, Magpie marries both the buffalo and the moose-woman. The buffalo gives birth to a calf, further exacerbating the tension between the two wives. Driven by jealousy, they compete for Magpie’s attention. He declares that he will stay with the one who wins a race.
The race is held on level ground, and the buffalo initially takes the lead. However, the moose-woman, once again resorting to trickery, wishes that the buffalo would get stuck in a mudhole on her return. Her wish comes true, and the buffalo loses the race.
Humiliated and enraged, the buffalo-woman abandons Magpie and returns to her father. Magpie, undeterred, follows after her. He encounters the buffalo-calf, who guides him to a spring to quench his thirst. The calf warns him that he will become thirsty several times before reaching the buffalo camp.
The man continues to follow his wife, guided by his son. He eventually reaches the buffalo camp, a sprawling settlement filled with lodges. The buffalo-woman seeks refuge in her father’s lodge, explaining her humiliation and the moose-woman’s treachery.
The old buffalo, once again acting as the protector of his daughter, orchestrates a plan to punish Magpie. He instructs him to participate in a war dance, wearing his best clothes and imitating the buffalo’s movements. Before the dance begins, Magpie expresses his hunger. The old buffalo offers him a gruesome meal: one of his brothers-in-law, skinned and prepared according to specific instructions.
After consuming the meal, the dance begins. For three rounds, the buffalo dance around Magpie without harming him. The calf dances beside his father. However, on the fourth round, the buffalo turn on Magpie, hooking him with their horns, throwing him into the air, and ultimately killing him.
The moose-wife, distraught by Magpie’s disappearance, cries out in despair. Her brother-in-law sets out to find him, eventually reaching the buffalo camp. He learns from the buffalo-calf that Magpie has been killed in the war dance.
The brother searches for Magpie’s remains and finds a small piece of his hair. Using his powers, he restores Magpie to life. Enraged by the buffalo’s treachery, Magpie seizes one of them by the horns and sets fire to its hair, explaining why buffalo have curly hair.
The story concludes with a final confrontation between Magpie and the buffalo. All the buffalo attack Magpie’s lodge, but he transforms it into an iron fortress, impervious to their attacks. He then shoots many of the buffalo from the roof of the house.
Sitcon’ski, a trickster figure, attempts to aid the buffalo by using iron horns to break through the house. However, Magpie notices him and questions his motives. Sitcon’ski claims he was only joking, bringing the story to an abrupt end.
The Buffalo Wife is a complex and multifaceted tale that explores themes of respect, transgression, revenge, and the delicate balance between the human and animal worlds. It serves as a reminder of the importance of honoring the natural world and the consequences of disrupting its harmony. The story of The Buffalo Wife also highlights the dangers of jealousy, lust, and the pursuit of personal gain at the expense of others. The ultimate fate of the man and Magpie underscores the cyclical nature of violence and the importance of seeking reconciliation and understanding.