Each animal has specific powers. To the Indians, all animals were spiritual teachers. The buffalo is power and wisdom, prayer and abundance. The buffalo was a major source of sustenance and the center of abundance in the Indians' lives. The buffalo gave the Indians everything that they needed to live.
Buffalo signifies self-sacrifice for the benefit of all.
The buffalo's message to the Indians was to use their energy in prayer, to send requests for healing and to give thanks for everything that they received from the Great Spirit. The bear is introspection. The bear came to the Indianslife when it was time to examine themselves. Bears reminded them to find a quiet place to examine their goals and find answers. This quiet place for many tribes was the Dream Lodge.