Buffalo Wolf is surrounded by the Circle of Life Sacred Hoop. He hunted the buffalo on the great plains of North America and when his family had eaten and filled their needs, he sang to invite the coyotes, foxes and birds to share in the feast. Any remains of the animal killed then returned to the Earth to fertilize the grasses and plants which in turn fed the other plains animals, from the mighty buffalo to the little mouse. Following the wolf's example, Native Americans shared their hunt with the widowed, orphaned, sick and elderly. The Buffalo Wolf was once one of the twenty-eight subspecies of wolf that roamed the North American Continent until man eliminated all but a recognized six species.

Alaskan Wolf - The Nunamiut of the far North confront polar darkness, blizzards, deep sub-zero weather and years in which caribou never come. They have learned to survive all this by emulating the wolf. They let the wolf teach them to hunt, to find water and to navigate the snowy terrain. The Nunamiut's ceremonial traditions and legends reflect their reverence for the wolf. Neither wolf nor Nunamiut hunt in bad weather. Both like to play and hunt vigorously and both get white hair with age. Both are tough, surviving some of Earth's harshest conditions. Both know the good hunting grounds, where the berries are to be found, and where creeks still run in August. Man and wolf have grown very much alike.

Red Wolf - Once thousands of red wolves roamed the Southeastern United States, but by 1980, hunting, disease, and environmental conditions left only a few of these small southern wolves. Efforts are underway to breed the wolf and even reintroduce Red Wolves into the wild. On the Sacred Hoop are symbols associated with the wolves - clouds, lightning and hail. It was believed that the wolf could influence the spirits of weather. In some traditions, the wolf guards the eastern door and is associated with the color red. The willow is sacred because of its eternal nature. If cut down, a new tree springs from the roots. The Raven is pictured because of its symbiotic relationship with the wolf.

Timber Wolf

Prairie Wolf

Wolf Song

My Brother:
Let me see through your eyes the beauty of our world.
Let me know what you know; the wonder of our world.
Let me sing with you, your song of praise.
Let me feel your spirit; your heart.

Teach Me:
Loyalty to my people. Sharing with those less fortunate,
Wariness for not all things are good
Stand my ground in truth
Obedience to spiritual laws
To be useful and purposeful.

Spirit to Spirit
Let my heart be as free as yours.
Spirit to Sprit
let me run with you.
Spirit to Spirit,
Guide me, Teach me, Be one with Me.

- Kennasatah

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