GREENVILLE – Hundreds gathered Wednesday morning near Greenville to celebrate the birth of a rare white buffalo, now known as Lightning Medicine Cloud.
The calf was born to the herd of Arby Little Soldier, who says he chose the name because the animal was born during a thunderstorm on May 12 and as a tribute to the first known white buffalo in Texas born in 1933.
The birth of a white buffalo is an estimated one in 10 million occurrence.
Lakota Sioux tradition holds that Whope, the goddess of peace, once appeared in the form of a white buffalo calf. Some say the goddess will return once for such calves are born to American Indians. Little Soldier said the buffalo represents hope for all nations and races.
Festivities at the Lakato Buffalo Ranch, west of Greenville, took place most of the day in honor of the occasion.
