When White Buffalo Calf Woman originally came to the Nation, upon her departure she told the People: “I must leave you now, but I will return someday. Then there will be a new life and a new understanding.” She then transformed into a red buffalo calf, into a maiden again, into a yellow calf, into a maiden, into a dark brown calf, into a maiden, then into a white buffalo calf, thus signifying the unity of the races and the coming together of humanity into oneness of heart, mind, and spirit.
An American Prophecy
Many Native Americans of various Nations believe the fulfillment of the prophecy began when, on August 20th, 1994, a white buffalo calf, a female named Miracle, was born on a farm in the Midwest. Miracle, as indicated by the prophecy, in fact changed color four times.
WHITE BUFFALO: An American Prophecy endorses the proposition: ‘heal yourself, heal the planet; heal the planet, heal yourself’. It represents our humble contribution to the evolution and regeneration of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.
Director Statement
The Indigenous have a message for humanity. We are all one family. We are all related. It is time to care for all our relations on this planet. It is time to respect all life on this Earth.
A funny thing happened on the way to making White Buffalo: An American Prophecy. Our Indigenous friends taught us there really is such a thing as “Indigenous Time”. It may not be the time you expected, but it always ends up being right on time.
In 1994 my brother Richard read an article about the birth of a white buffalo on a farm in Janesville, Wisconsin. He shared how this was a sacred event to many of the Indigenous of the plains. We read how First Nations people were traveling from around the country to pray WITH the white buffalo called “Miracle”. We decided to first raise enough funds, and after that, begin documenting the prophecy that told of the White Buffalo Calf Woman Spirit and her relation to the birth of a white buffalo.
The Elders had other ideas. “Start filming now. The money will come.” My brothers Richard, Jonathan & Seth and myself, began what became a 30-year quest for wisdom. Along the way, many Wisdom Keepers became Wisdom Sharers. Their messages to humanity were deliberate, sometimes funny, sometimes stern, but mostly hopeful. We sought to give them an unfiltered stage to share their thoughts, wisdom and stories. Many are no longer with us. We are humbled their stories were preserved here.
It is our hope that WHITE BUFFALO: An American Prophecy serves to bridge some understanding, and bring people closer together. My thought has always been that if my family could all sit down together, sharing with each other – not necessarily agreeing with each other, but just listening to each other respectfully – then maybe there’s hope for the greater family of mankind. We hope this film inspires you to take your own journey, and document your own family’s stories for future generations. If we are able to educate a little while entertaining, and remind you to respect one another, we give all the credit to those who were generous enough to share for all our benefits.
After 30 years my brothers and I are proud to present WHITE BUFFALO: An American Prophecy right on time, Indigenous time. It is our hope that the film serves as a bridge to understanding, to bring people, and peoples closer together.
My thought has always been that if my family could all sit down together, sharing, not necessarily agreeing with each other, but just listening respectfully, then maybe there’s hope for the greater family of mankind.
Four brothers embark on a personal quest for understanding, guided by Sun-Moon Dancer and LaKota OneHeart, in pursuit of the meaning of the sacred White Buffalo.
They journey to the Wisconsin farm where over 100,000 pilgrims have come to visit the actual White Buffalo calf and her successor.
From the pyramids and sacred energy centers of the Yucatan, they are instructed in the ancient wisdom of the Tolteka-Mexica by Grandfather Tlakaelel, keeper of the sacred energy centers of the Yucatan. The brothers travel to Hopiland in the American Southwest to meet with Hopi and Zuñi elders, including Grandfather Martin Gashweseoma and Sand Clan Mother, Rohanna Jackson. They consult with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of the Jewish renewal movement, and with other spiritual elders of this continent.