Beloit Daily News

Thursday - August 19, 1999

www.beloitdailynews.com/899/mira19.htm

Buffalo's birthday observed Friday

JANESVILLE _ Val and Dave Heider expect hundreds of participants to gather at their Janesville farm Friday to celebrate the Native American style birthday party for Miracle, the buffalo calf that was born white.

The public is welcome, Dave Heider said.

The celebration will begin with a ``Woman Ceremony'' at daybreak, starting at about 5 or 5:30 a.m., Heider said.

At 10 a.m. there will be a ceremony honoring the buffalo's fifth birthday.

At noon people are welcome to bring a dish to pass for a feast. Native American dancing will begin at noon and continuing throughout the day.

A sweat lodge, with a sauna-type set up, is expected to be operating tonight and Friday night.

South Dakota medicine man Floyd Hand is arriving in Janesville for the event, as is a 74-year-old hoop dancer.

``Everyone's welcome,'' Heider said, adding last year the birthday event drew 700-900 people.

Miracle turned brown last winter and is currently blondish brown. The buffalo has been white, red, black and yellow, said Heider, and, according to Native American prophesy, will turn white again when there is world peace.

NOTE:  In accordance with Title 17, U.S.C. Section 107, all material here is posted without profit or payment for non-profit research, educational, and archival purposes only.