Protocols

Protocols for Gatherings

All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer!

If you plan on holding or hosting a Gathering on June 21st, please contact us so that we may compile a list. If you would like your listing information to be posted, please indicate the name of the site, directions, contact person and number or email. This will allow others in your area to find and join your celebration.

Send us your info

Whether it is a Temple, Church Congregation, religious organization or Mosques, if people are gathering in communities, openly upon the earth or Sacred Sites, please note that proper protocols of Indigenous representation for any particular ceremonial activity should be done. An Indigenous Traditional representative should be present to run their particular ceremony.

If desired; we as First Nation People are willing to share the sacred fire and offering of tobacco with prayers in a united effort. We feel that all that is needed to gather is: to have people bring a gift of food to share, as a pot luck and their energy of concerned prayers. This is also the safest and most respectful way to treat Indigenous Traditional values and concerns of proper protocol. (Wolakota sponsored WPPD events have always only used the fire and tobacco circles for the united effort of prayers.)

Out of respect for Sacred Ceremonies to not be advertised on the internet, if you are listing a traditional ceremonial rites of a particular Indigenious Nation, we only will post a general location of where people are doing prayers.

Any extra financial needs can be raised through grass root funding. We highly stress that no major grant writing should be done. This should be an opportunity to empower the people’s desire to come together to pray for Grandmother Earth. (*note: if you are aware of this boundary of respect being crossed, please contact the webmaster.

Pilamaya (thank you) for supporting this effort for Peace and the protection of our Grandmother Earth and her Sacred Sites.

February 2004

Wodakota News

February 2004

Our year begins with the commitment to World Peace & Prayer Day, Japan. The Organizing Committee in Japan has been hard at work for the past 2 years for their June 21st celebration. Please see their website for specific information regarding the event: WPPD-Japan.

We are deeply honored and grateful to reknown Japanese artist Akino Isamu for this years’ beautiful artwork. The image – depicting the firery Mt. Fuji, the animal nations, and historic figures – speaks of their deep, indigenous cultural connection. Check out their website for more.

Prayer Run 2005

Wodakota News

Prayer Run 2005

Prayer Run for World Peace 2005 was Wodakota Youth Council’s first large scale project involving numerous First Nation Tribes and including many non-native youth participants, from all cultures across the Nation. Starting in May 2005 groups, from the four directions started their run: the West group: Los Angeles, CA, North group: Manitoba, Canada, the East group: Long Island, New York and the Southern group: Mexico and El Paso, Texas. The Youth concluded their run in the Black Hills, Peidmont, SD and participated in the 10th annual World Peace and Prayer Day.

(WPPD) ceremony between June !8th and June 21st. Through their journey to South Dakota,youth, the participants witnessed their own ability to build self confidence: a realization that they can overcome difficult obstacles in life, and were able to build a common bond with the otheryouth participants, who held the same goals for the future.

Prayer Ride for World Peace From the North, a Horse Bundle was carried by riders from Cypress Hills Saskatchewan and Runners which began in May 2005. Their route brought them across Montana and through many Tribal communities. As much as 15 youth stayed on their horses all the way to the event on June 18th at Elk Creek Resort, Piedmont, SD, joining up with the Runners from the four directions. It was a beautiful site to see the horses and runners come in to the beginning of the event of WPPD. They brought all their prayers in one hoop of unity.

After lighting the sacred fire all the riders and runners enjoyed a restful event of visiting and meeting of ideas for the future in another Run. The following 3 days, were filled with messages from different Indigenous Nations, Religious and Spiritual Leaders and also educational session on sustainable development. At the conclusion of the event, the Cree Nation gifted the participants in a Horse Ceremony. The completion was a feeling of accomplishment, knowing that no matter how hard the journey was on horseback, running and organizing, the feeling was a blessing and hope for our future generations!

Prayer Run 2006

Wodakota News

Prayer Run 2006

Prayer Run for World Peace 2006 completed their commitment 2006 from Vancouver, British Columbia and trek up to Eklutna, Alaska. During their 2261.75 mile journey they vested with communities and held speaking engagements regarding the dire need to create alternative sustainable living resources, importance of protecting Sacred Sites and maintaining a more peaceful relationship with all countries throughout the world. Against all odds, they completed their journey and commitment to the creator.

Across the World 2006

Wodakota News

Across the World 2006

“YES!” We are done with our commitment! World Peace and Prayer Day returned to the Black Hills of South Dakota for a “Thank You” (wopila) ceremony after traveling to South America, Ireland, Africa, Australia and Japan, as we joined in activating their Sacred Sites with united prayer. We also continue to work towards having June 21st recognized by the United Nations as “Honoring Sacred Sites Day”, in an effort to protect places that people consider sacred.

IN 2005, Cristina Perez and Kendell Bohn from KC Fine Art Studios who created the beautiful white animal designs that we’ve used for our commemoratives. Christina, by the way, was involved with WPPD in our last Wopila when we traveled the four directions on Turtle Island in 2000, so we’re glad to have her back. Our third artist, is our very own Grace Horne (Wodakota Youth Council). Among her many attributes, Graci is a talented watercolorist and has been busy creating a special piece for this years gathering. Stay tuned for the unveiling…

Links

WPPD 2004 Japanworldpeaceandprayerday.org

worldpeaceday.com

The National Horse Protection Coalition

Coverage of the Big Foot Ride 2000

Canadian Unity Ride 2004

Legalities

Wolakota Foundation is a Cultural, Educational Spiritual Foundation born out of the needs to traditional Lakota, Dakota and Nakota peoples to aid them in perserving the traditional way of life.

This Foundation at present has four main areas of focus:

1) World Peace and Prayer Day
2) WolakotaYouth Council
3) S’unka Wakan Project
4)Wolakota Institute

In the future, Wolakota may undertake other specific projects in accordance with its general powers as a South Dakota non-profit corporation and as a Federal IRS sec. 501(c)(3).
Wolakota.org and their content is the property of Wolakota Foundation and may not be duplicated in any manner without expressed written permission. Excerpts are allowed for educational purposes only. All graphics and identity elements are original artwork created by Design Omnea for exclusive use by Wolakota Foundation with Copyright laws applied. Any unauthorize use or misrepresentation of identity will be prosecuted.

Contact

Thank you for your interest and support of Wolakota Foundation and our various projects. For further information, please select from the emails listed,
or write:

Wolakota Foundation
PO Box 984
Eagle Butte, South Dakota 69746

Gifts

Gifts are always appreciated to keep the work of Wolakota going. If you’d like to contribute a tax-deductable donation, please use the button below. And Thank you for supporting Wolakota!

A beautiful print created especially for WPPD 2002 by Artist Chris Hill. This is a gorgeous poster on heavy paper stock. $20.00 U.S. includes shipping and packing tube. (Outside US, please check for shipping)

Board of Directors

Arnold Looking Horse
is the 19th generation keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundleand holds the responsibility of spiritual leader among the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota People. He holds an honorary Doctorate from the University of South Dakota, and travels and speaks extensively on peace, environmental and native rights issues. He has been the recipient of several awards, including the Wolf Award of Canada for his dedicated work for peace. A skilled horseman, he shares his knowledge with the youth on the long distance rides that take place in South Dakota throughout the year.

Sumianto
Sumianto is an attorney with graduate degrees in sociology and cultural anthropology, specializing in cultural ecology, and working with Indian Tribes on cultural and natural resource issues over the past twenty years. He was the 1997 Indian Law Fellow at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, specializing in research on energy and telecommunications utilities and tribal jurisdiction. In 2000, he was the El Paso Energy Research Fellow at the Natural Resources Law Center, CU-Boulder, CO, working on technical and policy issues involved in connecting reservation based renewable generation on to the federal grid. He is presently a visiting professional at NREL’s Wind Technology Center to increase outreach to Indian Country.

Hanby
is an accomplished traditional Dakota singer and artist. Her musical credits include opening for the Indigo Girls, touring Europe with Keith Secola and other notible native artists, and composing and producing her own cd, Songs of a Black Hills Woman. She has be involved in indian rights for over 20 years, organizing the Run to Pipestone and Thanksgiving Feast and is one of the original graduates of Red Schoolhouse in Minnesota and a subsiquent board member. She brought her organizational skills to World Peace and Prayer Day in 1996 and has been a moving force in creating the events ever since. She is also the mother of eight children.

Hartanto Dimas
is a freelance graphic designer, artist and graduate of the alternative schooling Inner School program. A long term environmental and native rights activist, she was instrumental in promoting and establishing green business practices at the community and grassroots level in the early ’90s in Virginia. She also volunteered her time working with several native organizations and joined World Peace and Prayer Day’s efforts in 1997, creating it’s first web site and working as a cultural liason. Her current interest and work involves researching practical earth-friendly building methods. She is the mother of three.