At a gathering near a picturesque lake outside Yellowstone National Park, hundreds celebrated the naming of a rare white buffalo born in the park: Wakan Gli, meaning “Return Sacred” in Lakota.

The event, featuring dancing, drumming, singing, and storytelling, marked a significant moment in a Native American religious ceremony.

The white buffalo calf, born earlier this month in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley, is seen by several tribes as the fulfillment of sacred prophecy and a call to better care for the Earth.

Chief Arvol Looking Horse, spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Oyate, emphasized the calf’s appearance as a blessing and a warning about environmental stewardship, the Associated Press has reported.

Around 500 people, including representatives from various tribes, attended the ceremony hosted by the Buffalo Field Campaign, a conservation group.

While the calf, born on June 4, was briefly seen by a few, it has not been spotted since.

Written by B.C. Begley