Update

White Buffalo Offered, Rancher Not Ready to Accept Gift

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

GREENVILLE, TEXAS – Arby Little Soldier has had an exhausting month of May thus far.

Arby & Pat Little Soldier

It has been almost three weeks since he discovered his beloved white buffalo, Lightening Medicine Cloud, slaughtered when he returned to his Lakota Ranch in Texas from a trip to Oklahoma City.

Not only was Lightening Medicine Cloud killed and skinned, Little Soldier discovered the white buffalo's mother wounded in a pasture near a pond by a poisonous arrow. The buffalo died the night she was discovered.

While still feeling the grief of his loss, Little Soldier, great-great-great grandson of Sitting Bull, still held a previously scheduled powwow last weekend that was originally intended to be a one year birthday celebration for Lightening Medicine Cloud. Instead the powwow was deemed a memorial service, complete with prayer and drumming.

Lightning Medicine Cloud and
his mother, Buffalo Woman last Summer

In the meantime, Cynthia Hart-Button, offered to give Little Soldier a white buffalo from her herd in Oregon. She breeds white buffalos on her ranch there. The 3,000 pound white buffalo, named Chief Hiawatha, is a seven year old bull.

Initially, Little Soldier was eager to receive the generous gift of Chief Hiawatha and had hoped the bull would have arrived at his Texas ranch in time for last weekend's powwow.

“Then something inside and even some elders told me to slow down, ”

Little Soldier told the Native News Network.

“A lot has happened in a short period of time. There is still an investigation taking place to find those responsible for killing Lightening Medicine Cloud and his mother. I decided to pray about this. I really want those responsible to be caught first. I really am afraid if word gets out there is another white buffalo on the ranch, they may come back and kill him too.”

“So, I am praying about what to do next. The investigators are following up on some leads. Some leads they are working on have not been made public for obvious reasons. I think they may be close to finding who is responsible. We even have descriptions of two men who were seen around here and may be responsible for murdering the buffalo.”

“In the meantime, I am trying to relax from an exhausting period,”

continued Little Soldier.

The reward has risen to $45,000 for capture and conviction of those responsible for the killings of the mother and son buffalos.

Little Soldier stated that he is appreciative of all the well wishes he and his wife, Pat, have received from all across America since the killing of White Lightening Cloud.

posted May 18, 2012 7:20 am edt