White Buffalo Cow Society
Encyclopedia
The White Buffalo Cow Society was the most respected women's society amongst the Mandan and Hidatsa
tribal peoples, equaled in the importance by the Bull Society amongst the men. The women of the White Buffalo Cow Society performed the buffalo-calling ceremony during the winter.
Cow oral history
, performed important winter buffalo-calling rite
s. Only post-menopausal women were permitted to joining this society amongst the Hidatsa, but the Mandan did not observe this restriction; however, the leaders were always elderly women.
At certain ceremonial dances, The leader wore a white buffalo cow hide blanket. While dancing, the leader held a bundle of twing, capped with eagle plumes, an eagle wing, and a tin cup tied at the handle. Two other women wore skunk hide headbands, and all the other society members wore the white buffalo cow skin headbands with owl or raven feathers. Feathers were partially dyed red. All the women wore vermilion
face paint on the left and two spots of blue paint on their right temples.
observed the society firsthand, and during his travels, every Mandan village has a White Buffalo Cow Society. Henry A. Boller was also able to observe and record the society during his residence in the Mandan and Hidatsa villages on the Upper Missouri from 1858 to 1862. The society was further studied by anthropologists Robert Harry Lowie and Alfred W. Bowers.
Hidatsa
The Hidatsa are a Siouan people, a part of the Three Affiliated Tribes. The Hidatsa's autonym is Hiraacá. According to the tribal tradition, the word hiraacá derives from the word "willow"; however, the etymology is not transparent and the similarity to mirahací ‘willows’ inconclusive...
tribal peoples, equaled in the importance by the Bull Society amongst the men. The women of the White Buffalo Cow Society performed the buffalo-calling ceremony during the winter.
Origin
The White Buffalo Cow Society originated with the Mandan but was adopted by the Hidatsa. This society, associated with the White BuffaloWhite buffalo
White buffalo are American bison that are considered to be sacred signs in several Native American religions, and thus have great spiritual importance in those cultures and are visited for prayer and other religious ceremonies...
Cow oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
, performed important winter buffalo-calling rite
Rite
A rite is an established, ceremonious, usually religious act. Rites in this sense fall into three major categories:* rites of passage, generally changing an individual's social status, such as marriage, baptism, or graduation....
s. Only post-menopausal women were permitted to joining this society amongst the Hidatsa, but the Mandan did not observe this restriction; however, the leaders were always elderly women.
Regalia
Members of the society painted one eye a color based on their personal preference, typically blue. They tattooed black markers between their lips and chin. The women wore a headdress with white buffalo cowhide cap, embellished with feathers.At certain ceremonial dances, The leader wore a white buffalo cow hide blanket. While dancing, the leader held a bundle of twing, capped with eagle plumes, an eagle wing, and a tin cup tied at the handle. Two other women wore skunk hide headbands, and all the other society members wore the white buffalo cow skin headbands with owl or raven feathers. Feathers were partially dyed red. All the women wore vermilion
Vermilion
Vermilion is an opaque orangish red pigment, similar to scarlet. As a naturally occurring mineral pigment, it is known as cinnabar, and was in use around the world before the Common Era began. Most naturally produced vermilion comes from cinnabar mined in China, and vermilion is nowadays commonly...
face paint on the left and two spots of blue paint on their right temples.
Decline
The ceremonies performed by the White Buffalo Cow Society gradually ceased under the pressure from the US Government agents during the 19th century. Today several women's organizations and centers among Northern Plains tribes bear the name "White Buffalo."Studies
Prince Maximilian of Wied-NeuwiedPrince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied
Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied was a German explorer, ethnologist and naturalist....
observed the society firsthand, and during his travels, every Mandan village has a White Buffalo Cow Society. Henry A. Boller was also able to observe and record the society during his residence in the Mandan and Hidatsa villages on the Upper Missouri from 1858 to 1862. The society was further studied by anthropologists Robert Harry Lowie and Alfred W. Bowers.
See Also
- White buffaloWhite buffaloWhite buffalo are American bison that are considered to be sacred signs in several Native American religions, and thus have great spiritual importance in those cultures and are visited for prayer and other religious ceremonies...
- White Buffalo Calf WomanWhite Buffalo Calf WomanWhite Buffalo Calf Woman , a sacred woman of supernatural origin, is treated as a prophet or a messiah and is central to the Lakota religion. Oral traditions relate that she brought the extended Lakota nation of the Teton Sioux their "Seven Sacred Rituals".- Story :The traditional story is that,...