My name is Arvol Looking Horse. I am the 19th Generation Keeper of the
Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe.
I have committed myself to pray with the Cree people on June 21st to honor
the sacred bundles and the sacred sites. Last year, we hosted June 21
World Peace and Prayer Day which commenced the 1,500 mile spiritual journey
to Grey Horn Butte. This year, the Cree Nation will host the Unity Ride -
World Peace and Prayer Day. The Unity Ride will begin June 21 at
Opaskweyak First Nation, Manitoba. Chief Ernest Sundown has committed to
organize the Ride and bring the message of unity among the people in the
north. This is an honor for our Nation and our vision.
Our purpose was given to us through a vision to unite our people
spiritually. Wasigla, "wiping the tears ceremony", was finally conducted
for our relatives that were massacred at Wounded Knee in 1890. It is told
that in 1890 the hoop of our nation was broken because of the persecution.
The vision informed us to ride the original trail of Chief Bigfoot and the
four hundred who followed him to Wounded Knee. In December 1990, the
ceremony Wasigla was finally carried out and the hoop of our Nation began
to mend. The prupose of this ceremony allows us to complete ourselves
spiritually be releasing the pain and praying for Wolakota (peace). This
is the beginning of our Nation's sacred hoop mending. It allows us once
again to have peace within ourselves and balance with all our relations.
After the Wasigla, the Bigfoot Riders agreed to change the name to the
Unity Riders. The Bigfoot Riders unanimously decided to ride north to
reunite with our relatives. In 1994, the birth of the White Buffalo
signalled prophecies of the seventh generation. The prophecy tells us that
we would be at a crossroads, either be faced with tears from our relatives,
chaos and disaster, or unite spiritually in peace and harmony. We have
seen the changes; it is time to bring the message to all people.
This is also the fifth and last year of the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota
completing the Unity Ride. This last Ride is called the Wopila. The
Wopila is a giving of thanks for the safe journeys of the previous years.
This is the beginning of the Unity Ride for the Cree nation. I will be
riding with the Cree Nation. Each ride is with the intention to restore
peace and harmony. The prophecies have directed that we pray for four
years at sacred sites in the four directions on June 21 of each year. Our
prayers are to ask for healing for all living things.
We ask that all people join us in prayer in which ever way the Great
Spirit, Wakan Tankaa, has given your people for your own sacred sites. We
musst do this for our future generations to live in peace and balance. In
our circle of life there is no beginning and no ending. May peace be with
you all my relations.
Mitakuye 'oyasin,
Arvol Looking Horse
Keeper of the Sared Pipe