“White Buffalo Calf Woman” Storyline

As a child growing up in Phoenix, Ken Rowe was drawn to the history and legend of the native peoples. “Their stories inspired me and resonated with my own connection to nature and the land that I loved,” says Ken. “I spent time traveling the state, going to reservations and listening to legends and stories told directly to me by the native people.” One of the legends that stayed with Ken is the story of White Buffalo Calf Woman. For over two thousand years, this great legend has lived in the traditions and oral history of the Lakota Elders. As the legend is told, White Buffalo Calf Woman was the emissary of the greatest bounty ever known to the native people of the Plains, the buffalo. During a time of famine, she appeared to two scouts searching for buffalo. At first she appeared as a white buffalo calf but quickly transformed into a beautiful maiden. One of the young braves had lustful thoughts for this powerful woman and was immediately turned to stone. To the other she said, “Return to your village and I will appear to you with a sacred bundle.” On the seventh day, she appeared to the Lakota people and shared the seven sacred ceremonies. By practicing the sacred rituals, the Lakota people would rise again and be great. Those ceremonies include the ceremony of the sacred pipe, which is a part of all seven rituals. When a Lakota smokes the sacred pipe, his or her voice is sent to Wakan Tanka–the Great Spirit. The first song sung by White Buffalo Calf Woman begins “With visible breath I am walking” and the smoke from the pipe is the visible breath. Other rituals include the way to pray, the sweat lodge, the Vision Quest and the Sun Dance.

White Buffalo Calf Woman stayed with the Lakota people for seven days, and when she left seven buffalo of seven different colors representing all the peoples of the world emerged from her white calfskin robe. As she disappeared, she again became a white buffalo calf. To this day, these rituals are honored and the white buffalo is the most sacred thing you can encounter as it is said that White Buffalo Calf Woman will reappear as a white buffalo calf during the next time of chaos and disparity. The birth of a white buffalo is celebrated; it is a sign of abundance, manifestation, and unification of all people and world harmony. “I knew I had to create this bronze,” states Ken. “Nature, wildlife and art will speak to you and I could not get the concept for this piece out of my head. I contemplated this image and my approach to sculpting it for almost ten years,” continues Ken. “I completed many sketches and concepts in clay over the years until I was ready to begin the sculpture. It was the culmination of two years of work to complete the bronze. For me, capturing the essence of White Buffalo Calf Woman’s spirit and her power were essential. I believe and I hope I have honored that spirit with this sculpture.”

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