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Native American Legends: White Buffalo Calf Woman (Ptesan-Wi)
Name: White Buffalo Calf Woman
Tribal affiliation: Lakota Sioux,
Dakota Sioux
Also known as: White Buffalo Woman, Buffalo Calf Woman, White Buffalo Cow Woman, White Buffalo Calf Maiden
Native names: Ptesan-Wi, Ptesanwi, Ptesanwin
Pronunciation: ptay-sahn-ween
Type: Native American goddess,
culture hero,
buffalo spirit
Related figures in other tribes: Poia (Blackfoot),
Lone Man (Mandan),
Gluskap (Wabanaki)
White Buffalo Calf Woman is one of the most important Sioux mythological figures. She brought the
sacred pipe
to the Sioux people, and taught them many of the arts of civilization.
White Buffalo Woman Stories
White Buffalo Calf Woman Brings the First Pipe:
Lakota legend about White Buffalo Woman and the origin of the peace pipe.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
The Sons of the Wind:
Good collection of Sioux legends told by a Lakota author.
Sponsored Links
Additional Resources
Lakota mythology
Lakota Sioux language
Sioux Indians
South Dakota Native Americans
The Plains Indians
Siouan
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