Kenahkihinén

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Kenahkihinén (Kĕ-Nah‛-Ki-Nĕn, from the Lenape language meaning 'Watch Over Us') (born November 12, 2006) is a male white buffalo calf residing at Woodland Zoo in Farmington, Pennsylvania. As with other rare white buffalo born in North America, he is considered by many Native Americans to be a sacred animal.^[1]

On December 23, 2006, around 2,500 people, including members of the Cherokee, Lakota, Apache, Iroquois and Shawnee tribes gathered at the zoo for the buffalo's naming ceremony. The name 'Kenahkihinén' was chosen by representatives of the Lenape Nation from nearby Huntingdon County, who presided over the ceremony.^[2]

On April 14, 2007, Kenahkihinén was blessed by a delegation from the Lakota tribe led by one of its leaders David Swallow. Swallow spoke of the significance of the white buffalo, and at one stage told the crowd of about 100 that it "shows itself because there is a great need...There is great disaster coming -- sickness and war -- and the white buffalo comes to give us a warning".^[3]

On November 12, 2007, approximately 200 people including members of the Lakota, Cherokee and Blackfoot tribes gathered at the zoo to celebrate the buffalo's first birthday. At the time, Sonny Herring, the zoo's owner, said that Kenahkihinén was doing well and weighed between 700 and 800 pounds. He added that he would be considered a mature adult at the age of 2.^[4]