Keynote Speaker Chief Arvol Looking Horse

Chief Arvol Looking Horse was born on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. At the age of 12, he was chosen to be the 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe. He is widely recognized as a chief and the spiritual leader of all three branches of the Sioux tribe. He is the author of White Buffalo Teachings and has been a guest columnist for Indian Country Today. A tireless advocate of maintaining traditional spiritual practices, Chief Looking Horse is the founder of Big Foot Riders which memorializes the massacre of Big Foot's band at Wounded Knee.

Following the birth of a White Buffalo Calf in 1994, Arvol felt called to honor it with a ceremony on June 21st. According to the Lakota, the birth of "Miracle", the female white buffalo calf, signaled a time of earth changes and the coming of the mending of the Hoop of All Nations. The Summer Solstice is said to be a powerful time to pray for peace and harmony among all Living Beings. Arvol organized gatherings around Sacred Sites to collectively pray for the healing of Mother Earth and All of Us. That ceremony marked the beginning of an annual tradition, one that Arvol hosted: World Peace and Prayer Day!

All Nations recognize Sacred Sites as Places to gather or perform ceremonies. For countless generations, these Sacred Sites were honored, cherished and strengthened through ceremony and Our Mother remained healthy. To ensure the lives of future generations for all our relations, we must begin again to honor, cherish and renew Our Mother. We must all join in a unifying Prayer and ACTION, to bring forth World Peace and Harmony.

Photo courtesy Kate Haley Photography