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Gwich'in Sarah James grew up speaking her language, with nine children in her family. Listen now as she shares her story, and her journey protecting the caribou, during World Peace and Prayer Day.
Live Now: World Peace and Prayer Day
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| Chief Arvol Looking Horse begins World Peace and Prayer Day 2026 today. |
Article by Brenda Norrell, Censored News, noon, June 21, 2026
(Above) As World Peace and Prayer Day begins today, an elder from Alaska speaks on the impact of a typhoon at Hooper Bay. She spoke on the power of prayer, and efforts to recover. "Their homes are totally destroyed." Now, the federal government is depriving them of their funds.
Paiute Josh Dini and youth honor Myron Dewey, Paiute, and his efforts at Standing Rock. They are sharing what is happening at Thacker Pass, the lithium mining in Nevada.
On the ride, now from Green Grass in South Dakota, Josh said they are able to share what is happening in Nevada and that Thacker Pass is a place of massacres.
Data centers are being pushed without consultation with the tribe. The data centers are taking the land and water, even now in a drought, the data centers are coming for the water, Josh said.
Dr. Valeriah Big Eagle, Nakota/Hunkpati Dakota, speaks on the power of prayer and protection of the land and water. At Sacred Pe'sla, two drill rigs were stopped from going in. An injunction, and preliminary injunction was filed to stop the drilling for graphite. Then, "they started drilling around the clock." On May 8, the permit was rescinded.
Lisa Bellanger shares the beginning of the American Indian Movement, and the resistance while protecting the water, land and rivers. Following in her mother's work, she rose to the challenge of global work.
Mathó Pahá (Bear Butte) South Dakota -- Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Chief began by saying the riders are coming from Green Grass and then they will proceed to the Little Big Horn.
"Mother Earth is sick, and we are sick," Chief Looking Horse said.
With a message of hope, Chief Looking Horse said his people are a people of peace and today, more than ever, the youths are singing their songs and on the ride from Green Grass.
As World Peace and Prayer Day began, now in its thirtieth year, Chief Looking Horse said, "Pipestone is the Blood of our People,"
"We need peace in this world more than ever."
On the ride, now from Green Grass in South Dakota, Josh said they are able to share what is happening in Nevada and that Thacker Pass is a place of massacres.
Data centers are being pushed without consultation with the tribe. The data centers are taking the land and water, even now in a drought, the data centers are coming for the water, Josh said.
There were drones and helicopters overhead, but the occupation went forward with prayer, she said. The protectors had their own drone as well, for security. Big Eagle said it was an honor to be a part of this.
"The only weapons we had were our prayers," she said, describing the lock downs to equipment to halt the drilling.
"When we are in solidarity and unity, we can make things happen," she said, speaking on ongoing efforts to protect the Sacred Black Hills.
Growing up in Pipestone
She grew up with her father protecting Pipestone, at a time when the kids spent their days looking for wild turnips, in the town of Pipestone, a racist town in Minnesota, near the South Dakota border. Listen to her as she shares her story.
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| Listen to the Survivors Growing up on Akwesasne Mohawk, she tells her story. In the Mohawk way, she was told not to whisper or yell, but to "make sure people hear you when you talk." Describing abuse, she said Nathan was not a medicine man, and is in jail now because of the voices of the women, the survivors. "Everything comes back," she said, recalling how women learned to question and to hold people accountable. "Always remember to listen when people come forward to tell their story." Listen to her words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhzYmFvavdA  |
Recently, she supported the efforts to halt the production of plastics, which took her to Korea. Micro-plastics are now invading our bodies, said Bellanger, born in Cass Lake, Minnesota on the Leech Lake in Minnesota.
Listen to her words.
Macaoz'alus (HuckleberryEyes) Jackie Andrew of Lil'wat, St'at'imc Nation, Interior Salish. Stepping up to protect the water and land in B.C., Andrew said her people never gave up their land. listen to her words.
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Updates from Standing Rock and Battling Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota Faced with the pipeline coming through near Cannonball, Standing Rock Chairman Dave Archambault told the pipeline that he couldn't agree to this. "We were never involved from the beginning," Lakota said today. There was no free, prior and informed consent. There was prayer and ceremony. "We asked for help." The EIS, Environmental Impact Statement, was just issued in March. "They've been operating for close to ten years illegally." "That's not dead," he said, of the movement to protect the water. He said the people will never stop defending the water. During lunch at World Peace and Prayer Day today, videos will be shared. Gwich'in Sarah James will be offering a prayer.  In Fort Peck, Montana, they're working to protect and find homes for Yellowstone's buffalo. Listen as he shares the work started by Rosalie Little Thunder, Lakota, to protect Yellowstone's wild buffalo herd.  Chief Francois Paulette speaks now gaining aboriginal rights in what is called Canada. "Protecting the Earth was the most important thing," he said. "Water is all life. Water is the center of all life." Chief Paulette speaks on protecting the rivers. There were rivers where you could drink pure water with a cup. Now, the tarsands have polluted the rivers. Speaking on wildfires, he said, "Fire is a living Spirit, and we need to know how to deal with it." Chief Paulette lives by the big river, in the bush, not in town, and tells his grandchildren stories. "I come from the buffalo country." Speaking on the sources of life, he said there are ceremonies to understand the buffalo and all living things, in the living world. "My grandchildren are trying to instill hope, if we stay together, if we share the prophecies." Sharing prophecy, he said, that people from the deep south will begin to move north, and that is happening. The prophecy had foretold that the 'Stone' people would come for gold and oil. They are going to make their money and they are going to leave. But when the tough times come, they will return, looking for water and food. "Right now we are preparing," he said, as he builds his food shelter. Food must be put aside for up to two years. "These prophecies are coming true."  Gwich'in Sarah James grew up speaking her language, with nine children in her family. Listen now as she shares her story, and her journey protecting the caribou, during World Peace and Prayer Day. Sarah speaks on the importance of protecting the wild from oil drilling in her homeland, in the far north, in her message shared by video. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is for the Gwich'in, the Place Where Life Begins, the birthing grounds of the caribou. Watch live now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhzYmFvavdA |
World Peace and Prayer Day
Established in 1996, World Peace and Prayer Day was initiated by Chief Arvol Looking Horse, a spiritual leader and keeper of the Sacred Pipe of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Sioux Nation. The gathering first brought together Indigenous Peoples of North and South America, but spread to the rest of the world.
On June 20 and 21—the summer solstice—everyone, regardless of origin, nation, religion or belief, is encouraged to gather at sacred sites to pray: “All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer.”
There will be in-person programming centered at Mathó Pahá (Bear Butte) in the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota. Events will be live-streamed on from 10 A.M to 5 P.M. MT on Saturday, June 20.
Speakers include CEE’s Karenna Gore, Kanahus Manuel, Pala Tootoosis, Josh Dini, Valeriah Big Eagle, Anissa Martin, Lisa Bellanger, Linda and Buz Daney, Krystal Two Bulls Jackie Andrew, Faith Spotted Eagle, Iktomi Waste Winyan Favel, Carla Rae Marshall, Duane Two Bulls, Cedric and Sissy Good House, Guy Jones, Sarah James and Jackie Bird.
For a full list of events and programming, visit the event website.
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