It was about 200 years ago when Native Americans last held a white buffalo blessing ceremony on Lakota territory in South Dakota.
In Fayette County on Saturday, a blessing ceremony was held to honor a male white buffalo born Nov. 12 at the Woodland Zoo in Farmington, Fayette County. The buffalo has been named Kenahkihinen, which means "watch over us" in the language of the Lenape tribe.
Lakota spiritual leader David Swallow, a member of the Teton Lakota Nation, band of Crazy Horse, and a headman of the Lakota Nation, came to the amphitheater at the zoo to talk about the significance of the birth of the white buffalo.
"The white buffalo shows itself because there is a great need," Swallow told a crowd of about 100. "There is great disaster coming -- sickness and war -- and the white buffalo comes to give us a warning."
In a traditional Lakota blessing ceremony, the white buffalo would have been shot so that the Lakota people would live without falling victim to disease.
"Every part of the white buffalo is sacred," Swallow said. "Every part was given to the sick of the tribe. Sacred symbols were put on the white buffalo hide, which would be taken to a place in the Black Hills."
Kenahkihinen, however, will continue living in peace at Woodland Zoo.
Swallow said the white buffalo stopped appearing before the Lakota people because the nation "was divided."
"We had signed up with the government," he added. "Now the white buffalo has come to you, our white brothers and sisters. It wanted to speak to you."
The rare white buffalo serves as a sign to everyone, regardless of color, as a warning to remedy how Mother Earth and her creatures are being treated, Swallow said.
"It is not the end of the world, but a new beginning," Swallow said. "There is a huge whirlwind out there called progress and one day it will come to a stop. When the great change comes, I will dance because my work will be done."
Michael "Haw" Spisak, a Scottdale sundancer who is a member of the Athabascan tribe, which originated in the Alaskan interior, called Swallow's visit to Western Pennsylvania an "historic event" that was not marred by rain and 39-degree temperatures.
Area Native Americans performed a traditional ceremony to thank the Swallow family for visiting.
The zoo sold white buffalo souvenirs, such as dream-catchers and stuffed animals, along with refreshments that included hot dogs and nachos. Members of the crowd, which included many Native Americans, paid to tour the zoo. Admission to the blessing ceremony was free.
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