Alamo Placita

APNA Scholar's Work on Display

May 05, 1998

When 12-year-old Gabriel Reeve became interested in the white buffalo calf born in Wisconsin three years ago, the only publicity he expected was a chance to show off his research project to his 4th grade class. However, Gabe was invited to display his project at the Denver Buffalo Company Restaurant & Trading Post during the "Summit of the Eight" international economic conference held in Denver last June. Gabe's work was viewed by many representatives of the eight participating nations who visited the Buffalo Company at 1109 Lincoln Street.

The invitation to display the white buffalo calf research project came from Buffalo Complany weaver Annette Graener and owners Sue and Will McFarlane, who thought it would be an excellent chance to show the positive side of American youth.

The white buffalo calf was born on the Heyder Ranch near Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1994. Because the white buffalo is considered sacred in Native American lore, the calf has been the subject of great interest and attention. More than 75,000 visitors, many of them Native American, but also some from foreign countries, have trooped through the Heyders' ranch to see the calf.

When Gabriel decided to write to the Heyders to ask for more information and perhaps a picture, the ranchers were dealing with an unexpected onslaught of media attention and 1,200 visitors a day, so Gabriel's mother cautioned him not to expect a detailed response. But within a week after receiving Gabriel's letter, Mrs. Heyder sent a hand-written note with a photo. Gabriel was on his way! He had asked for some of the calf's hair but Mrs. Heyder explained to him that the baby was only 5 months old and the mother was still very protective and wouldn't let anyone near enough to collect hair.

Annette Graener weaves buffalo hair on a large loom at the Denver Buffalo Company. She heard about Gabriel's project from his mother who works at Skyloon Fibres, a source of supplies for weavers. Gabriel lives in the Alamo Placita neighborhood on Pennsylvania Street and attends St.