The Villagers in the Sioux camp had to hurry with their preparations of repairing their lance spear points, refilling their quivers with new and sharp arrows, restringing their bows, and decorating their horses for this occasion for the buffalo were on the move. Iron Hawk, Black Horse, Little Beaver, Bob-tailed Bull, Lame Deer, Little Wolf, and many others were ready and prepared for this big kill. The women were busy repairing and making the frames to hold the hides of the buffalo while skinning them. They knew that there would be many hides to prepare for the many needs of the buffalo skins. Even the children had their work to do -- gathering logs and limbs for the many fires for the preparations of the hides.

Iron Hawk mounted his horse to locate the buffalo once again to see if they were heading in the correct direction. He wanted the herd to be cross wind from their approach because the plains dust would be thick and heavy. This strategy was mainly for safety reasons of the hunters to make their kills when they charged into the huge herd. The charging Indians caused the massive herd to begin to stampede, which caused the Indians difficulty to single out the various bulls for their kills.

Soon, the ground was littered with dead buffalo. White Buffalo Calf Woman had helped them to successfully make a good hunt of the buffalo. When the Indians had killed a good quantity of the buffalo, a signal was given to stop the hunt. The stampeding buffalo were soon out of sight. The men, women, and younger men began to gather the dead buffalo to take them to their camp for the preparations of the hides for their use. They were pleased at their success. They will have a ceremony that night to thank Wakan Tanka. There were no serious injuries among the Indians in this big hunt!

For the next week, the Villagers were very busy at their tasks of skinning the hides, preparing the meats, and the making of the much-needed buffalo robes for the upcoming winter and cold weather.

Iron Hawk mounted his decorated horse to return to the place of the killing of the buffalo. He had not been there very long when he saw off in the distance a White Buffalo grazing. He was excited to see such a rare buffalo. He approached it very cautiously. When the White Buffalo saw Iron Hawk, it started to run towards him. Suddenly it stopped, knelt on its knees, and rolled over several times - White Buffalo Calf Woman appeared! She was dressed in her beautiful white regalia. She was a very beautiful woman with her long braided black hair. Her body filled her Regalia very charmingly. She gave the friendly hand sign as to say, "Hello and Welcome my friend, Iron Hawk". Then she said, "Your People were successful in their hunt of the buffalo I brought to you. You will have plenty of food, clothing, and many blankets, now." Iron Hawk replied, "Yes, we will now have a large supply of needed materials and many thanks to you, White Buffalo Calf Woman!" She replied, "Your people had need for these materials. I want you to come back to this place in seven days, for I want you to take to them a certain bundle that I shall explain more what you are to do." Then she turned away to leave Iron Hawk. Further away, she knelt on her knees and rolled over several times. White Buffalo Calf Woman became the White Buffalo!

Iron Hawk became quite bewildered about the "bundle" White Buffalo Calf Woman made reference to. He could not begin to imagine what she had in mind nor why she wanted him to take it to his people. He would return to this place of the Buffalo killings in seven days to have a council with the HOLY WOMAN! He decided he would be dressed in his finest clothing, his headdress, his moccasins, and his leggings. He wanted to be well dressed for her! Even his horse would display feathers of distinction. To be the carrier of this "bundle" to his people was a great honor and privilege. This "bundle" brought many thoughts to Iron Hawk's mind. To whom was he to give this sacred bundle? And were all the Chiefs and elders of the Seven Councils of the Sioux Nation to be present when this "bundle" was delivered? How were all the Chiefs going to be notified in so little time? These and other questions were running in his mind. Quickly, he must go and seek advice from his father, Black Horse.

Iron Hawk and his father, Black Horse, sat and talked for sometime. They decided that the quickest means of notifying all the elders of the Sioux Nation to come quickly for a Big Council was to send the message by Smoke Signals. If the Signals were sent, the elders would be present for this Council in four Suns. They would have time to meet in a Circle of Trust around a big fire in the center of the big Teepee for the upcoming gift by White Buffalo Calf Woman. The elders had no way of knowing what this "bundle" was or why was there so much demand put on all the elders to be present.

Those Indians who were chosen to send the Smoke Messages left immediately for the highest ridges near by to start the fires for the Smoke Signals. This method of communicating with their people was quite rapid and the messages could travel great distances in a short period of time!

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