World Peace And Prayer Day on the Ohio River

**NOTE: PLEASE READ ENTIRE DESCRIPTION AS THERE ARE TWO LOCATIONS OF IMPORTANCE**

In 1996, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle, began conducting annual World Peace and Prayer Day (WPPD) ceremonies to encourage people of all faiths and all nations to offer prayers for the planet on the summer solstice, June 21st. Across cultures, the solstice is considered a powerful time to pray, especially at sacred sites. Over the past 23 years, Chief Arvol’s annual gathering for communal ceremony, dialogue, and prayer has traveled the world—Ireland, Japan, Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico—and in the US it has been hosted at sacred sites in South Dakota, Wyoming, New York, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere.

We are being called together at a time of great urgency. Water is the life's blood of all creation, water is what connects us all. You may recognize the impact that fossil fuels industries have had on our water and our communities. Fossil Fuel industries have bullied and bought their way through poor rural communities and indigenous treaty lands. Their lust for profit cuts every corner of our country as fast as possible, destroying sacred sites, poisoning water, and putting thousands of lives at risk along the way. FYI link to the description of the main event happening in Cincinnati, OH: https://gcnativeamericancoalition.com/wppd2019

Join people of all faiths for an evening of Peace & Prayer for the Ohio River and all of Mother Earth. We will meet at the Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville, WV at about 6pm for an honoring of the Native people who came before us in the Moundsville area. We will learn about the Native history and acknowledge the land and the people buried there. Then we will drive (0.6 mi) to the Riverfront Park near the Moundsville bridge for an interfaith prayer/vegetarian potluck/drumming circle/gathering of friends. We will drum for as long as people feel like hanging around!

*Bring a blanket and/or chair for the gathering at the Riverfront Park*

*Please bring a vegetarian covered dish.* We are keeping it vegetarian in order to honor various faith backgrounds that do not partake in eating meat. Drinks will be provided. If you do not have the means, you do not have to bring any food. There will be access to a kitchen at the shelter at the Riverfront Park for you to heat up your food before we eat. The Hare Krishna temple will be providing some food, but we want to allow space for all faiths to prepare food as well. Bring a drum if you have one or just come and listen/sing. The purpose of this event is to unite all of our energies for the earth and water. To that end, ALL people are welcome regardless of faith/cultural background. This event comes at an important time in history as the Ohio River is under threat from the petrochemical and oil & gas industries. The location of our event is very near the proposed petrochemical ethane cracker plant site in Dilles Bottom, OH. Despite the circumstances surrounding this issue, this is a peaceful event.

That’s why we must rise up, stand together and pray for #WorldPeace&Prayer on June 21st!