Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Black Hills, Lakota Nation - Momentum is gathering toward an international peace summit to be held in Costa Rica on June 21, 1999. World Peace and Prayer Day 1999 is a calling for the world to seek out the sacred sites and bring awareness to the energies that unite us all. We ask the world to stop for at least 1 minute on the Summer Solstice to meditate and pray for Peace, with children leading the way.

Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Pipe of Peace, will complete a commitment to hold World Peace and Prayer Day ceremonies in each of the four directions on June 21st. He has done this for the past three consecutive years and has invited leaders of all spiritual traditions to join him on that day to pray for peace and global healing. The aim for this year's event is to create a network of organizations, concerned citizens, religious leaders, government officials and Indigenous nations to unite in spirit and on the Internet as a true global family praying for peace.

Many celebrities have given their support for World Peace and Prayer Day, including Willie Nelson who donated his time for a fundraising concert in New Mexico in April. Other celebrities include Goldie Hawn, Chayanne, Gloria Estefan, and Rita Colliage.

Chief Looking Horse was awarded the prestigious Canadian Wolf Award in 1996. This award is given to a person who has dedicated their life for Peace. The first award was presented to Nelson Mandela, the President of South Africa. In recent years Arvol Looking Horse has spoken before the Special Reporter of the United Nations; traveled to Iraq to pray for peace and met with spiritual leader Desmond Tutu in South Africa to discuss global healing. A special friendship has been formed with the Dalai Lama to establish a relationship between Tibet and the Lakota Nation.

In October 1998, NASA sponsored a conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in which Indigenous spiritual leaders were invited to discuss scientific findings on climatic impacts such as the phenomena of ozone depletion. The scientists and government officials, admitting that their technological solutions would be inadequate to avert major global changes in progress, were seeking advice from the Indigenous leaders on preparing the general population for the consequences of these dramatic impacts.

There is no lack of hard evidence for the severity of the world's environmental challenges, or the view of our world as a global military forcing peace through war. The newspapers and TV media are full of hate-crimes and violence, with our children suffering the most. Peace amongst people and harmony with the natural world seem at times to be hopeless, even naive goals. And yet these goals are deep within the psyche of every parent contemplating their children's future and are embedded within every religious and spiritual tradition. Perhaps the experts are not naive in turning to old traditions for inspiration and ideas, a hope for the future.

One of these traditions associated with the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nation, tells the story of White Buffalo Calf Woman. She is believed to have appeared to the tribes hundreds of years ago bringing instruction about sacred ceremonies and how to live in balance with all life. A sacred bundle containing a pipe of peace was left behind and she left making prophecies about a time in which she would return again. In 1994, the birth of a white buffalo calf is believed to have been the sign that these times are at hand. As a result of this miraculous birth, Chief Arvol Looking Horse in 1996 called upon spiritual leaders from around the world to join him in praying for global peace and healing. He also issued an invitation for people of all faiths to gather at their sacred sites, or educational facility to foster cultural sharing and organize other activities focused on Peace. In the hearts of our children are the seed for true peace, we must have inner peace before we can create peace in this world. Peace begins with an internal commitment and this is what World Peace and Prayer Day is all about. A call is being issued to all four directions around the Earth. On June 21, 1999, we ask all people from every religion and tradition to go within for at least one minute of silence. You will be part of a unique event where millions of people will pray for Peace and the healing of humanity. In the Lakota tradition, there is no beginning and no ending to continue to work towards peace and harmony for our Mother Earth.

This event is free to the public and will feature talking circles, Native American dancers, sacred ceremony, children's games and a peace concert. Also right after this event in Costa Rica, Jose Arguelles will host the "World Thirteen Moon Calendar Change Peace Movement" A registration form can be found on the WPPD web site. A detailed proposal regarding World Peace and Prayer Day 1999 is available upon request from Rediscovery Four Corners, Inc., whose mission is to educate the world about World Peace and Prayer Day and the need for global healing. Sponsors are needed for the 1999 event in Costa Rica. Please direct inquiries to World Peace and Prayer Day 1999 Office Rediscovery Four Corners, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization at:. PO Box 421, Spearfish, South Dakota 57783 Toll free in the US: 1-877-704-1701

Many events are planned around the world to support Arvol's vision, a partial list can be viewed online.

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Louis Mejia by phone 305-667-6399 or email: innervoice@cwixmail.com Related Sites: URL: The Campaign For Kids URL: Tribalink (For live radio coverage.) URL: "World Peace and Prayer Day" Costa Rica Join The Global Prayer For Peace On June 21st At 10:00 AM CST (3:00 PM GMT) URL: Chief Invites Serbian & Yugoslavian Representatives "To Participate In World Peace And Prayer Day"

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