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Seven Sacred Rites from White Buffalo Calf Woman
- Joy Rains
- Jun 9
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 10
The White Buffalo Calf Woman aka Mother of all creation relayed as a prominent figure in Lakota tradition, a deity or spirit who is believed to have brought teachings and the sacred pipe (Chanupa) to the Lakota people. She is associated with the Seven Sacred Rites and is also linked to the prophecy of her return to restore harmony and spiritual balance
The Seven Sacred Rites:
These rites are said to be based on teachings given by the White Buffalo Calf Woman
Inípi — Rite of Purification
The Lakota term for sweat lodge is Inípi, which means ‘to live again’. The Inípi serves as the basic purification ceremony of the Sioux, as well as many of the other Native American cultures. The Inípi can begin a ceremony, conclude a ceremony, or can even stand alone as a ceremony of its own.
Before the ceremony takes place, prayers are said and the lodge is purified.
Throughout the Inípi, participants sit on sacred sage in the shape of a circle. The ceremonial pipe is smoked while heated rocks are placed on the center fireplace and water is poured over them to create steam.
During the Inípi, the door to the lodge is opened four times to represent the four ages described by the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman. On the fourth time the door is opened, all participants emerge from the lodge and all that is impure stays within.
Haŋbléčheyapi — Crying for a Vision
Vision Quests can be undertaken as part of the rite of passage from boyhood to manhood or as an adult in order to receive specific revelations. Men are traditionally the ones who take part in this ceremony, but in recent years, some women have prayed for visions in formal Vision Quests.
After the Inípi ceremony, the individual seeking a revelation is isolated in a place where the power is great. Although some sites, such as the Black Hills in South Dakota, are well-known as powerful sites, all tribes have identified areas they use specifically for this purpose. The individual remains isolated at this location for several nights — usually four — fasting from food and praying for a vision that will reveal their destiny.
Visions traditionally come in the form of an animal and dreams are said to hold the most powerful visions.
After the Haŋbléčheyapi concludes, the participant’s dreams are interpreted by a Wičháša Wakȟáŋ — Holy Man.
Wiwáŋyaŋg Wačhípi — Sundance
Developed by several Plains Tribes, the Sundance has been recognized by some as the most important ceremony practiced by the Lakota. The ceremony is a visual sacrifice for the people.
Individuals vow to participate in the Sundance in return for a specific form of help — such as sparing the life of a sick relative, finding buffalo during times they were scarce, or experiencing success during war.
Participation in a Sundance includes the dancer’s entire family. Throughout the ceremony, family members offer assistance and encouragement to their loved one.
The ceremony, traditionally lasting seven days, begins with the cutting of the Sundance pole, preferably cut from a cottonwood tree, which is not allowed to touch the ground as it falls. The pole is decorated and placed in the middle of the arena.
At the beginning of the ceremony, anyone can dance. Dancers make sure to face the sun and take this time — usually four days — to prepare themselves.
The heart of the ceremony is the piercing of the Sundancers’ pectoral or back muscles with a length of bone. The bone is then attached to the pole or buffalo skulls by rope. The purpose of the dance is to remove the pieces of bone from one’s body. Those attached to the pole leaned backwards to try and release themselves. Those attached to skulls drag them over rocks and through bushes to encourage the bones to break free.
Huŋkálowaŋpi — Making of Relatives
The Huŋkálowaŋpi ceremony was first used to build peace between the Lakota and Ree people. This ceremony ensured peace and friendship between the tribes and mirrored the relationship of the Lakota with Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka — the Great Spirit.
Today, one can become part of a thiyóšpaye — extended family — by birth, marriage or Huŋkálowaŋpi.
Išnáthi Awíčhalowaŋpi — A Girl’s Coming of Age
This rite was performed at the time when a young girl realized the change taking place in her life was a sacred thing. The ceremony was held to purify and prepare her for becoming a woman and bearing children. Although the Išnáthi Awíčhalowaŋpi ceremony is not as common today due to the changes in gender expectations, the ceremony traditionally occurs during a girl’s first menstrual cycle.
Overall, the young girl is reminded of the virtues necessary for womanhood, including modesty, generosity, child bearing and supporting male relatives and husbands.
Wanáǧi Yuhápi — Keeping of the Soul
According to the Sacred White Buffalo Woman, when a Lakota person dies, their souls must be purified so they can reunite with Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka — the Great Spirit.
After a commemorative banquet and gift-giving ceremony, the bundle containing the soul was carried outside and released.
It is said that the soul travels along the Spirit Path — Milky Way — to reach Mayá Owíčhapaha — the old woman who judges each soul.
The one-year commemoration remains a common ceremony today.
Prophecy of Return:
The legend includes a promise that she will return in the future to restore harmony and spiritual balance.
Tȟápa Waŋkáyeyapi — Throwing of the Ball
In a ceremony preceding the Tȟápa Waŋkáyeyapi ceremony, the ball is painted red, with a blue dot in each of the four quarters. Two circles blue in color were painted around the ball, which symbolize heaven and earth coming together. A pipe was purified with sweet grass smoke while prayers were sent to Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka — the Great Spirit and the powers of the Four Directions. The ball was said to have been given to man by the buffalo, symbolizing that man was the inheritor of the earth.
Sometimes used as a healing ceremony for a stressed community, Tȟápa Waŋkáyeyapi highlights that Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka — the Great Spirit — is everywhere.
Symbolism:
The pipe and the buffalo are central symbols in Lakota spirituality, representing the connection between humanity, the spiritual world, and the natural world
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