BUFFALO - TATANKA



buffalo medicine shield edged with beads




buffalo medicine shield



painted buffalo skull

For Lakota people, the buffalo means protection, stubborness and generosity. Buffalo is the giver of abundance to the people, it was a major source of sustenance: meat for food, hide was used for clothing, shelters, tipis and sweat lodges; fur used for blankets, sinew used for sewing, and the bones were carved for many uses. One of the most sacred stories of the Lakota people is that of White Buffalo Calf Woman, a radiant being who brought the sacred pipe to the people. The pipe represents the union of all life with Creator. The stem is made of wood from the tree people, and the bowl, made of red catlinite, represents the blood of the people. The natural tobacco used in the pipe is the sacred herb of prayer and connection with the Great Spirit, the smoke ascends towards the sky and carries the prayers to the Creator. This way, the significance of the buffalo to Lakota people is the teaching of abundance, gratitude and prayer.