World Peace and Prayer Day (WPPD) will once again bring people of all faiths and spiritual beliefs together to pray for healing for Mother Earth. World Peace and Prayer Day began on June 21, 1996 to bring attention to the earth’s need for healing. It has evolved into a honoring of sacred sites around the world.
WPPD will take place June 18-21 at Fort Snellling and around the Mendota area. A Sacred Horse Ride will begin June 6th at Pickerel Lake in South Dakota and will arrive at the ancient site of Bdote near Mendota, Minnesota.
An effort by Guinness, for the worlds largest "Hug for Peace" will be held on the Mendota Bridge from 2- 4 pm on June 19 to signify the need for unity.
Other activities include two nights of concerts with musicians. Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater and New Native Theater will be doing puppet workshops, and there will be artists displaying and selling their artwork on all 4 days.
Speakers from Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, England and Canada will share the condition of the planet in their countries. Speakers include Arvol Looking Horse, the 19th generation keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle; Isaac James Bishra, Maori Nation, New Zealand; Brave Heart Society & Elk Soldier Society, Yankton Sioux Tribe; Claudette Commanda, Executive Director for the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centers in Canada; Swami Nityamuktananga Saraswati, England; Yoshie Ebihara, Japan; Dawid Hermanus Kruiper, South Africa; Isak Kruiper; Josephine Mandamin, Canada; Rabbi Bob Carroll, Israel; Anna Festus, South Africa and Shri Natha Devi Premananda.
The World Peace and Prayer Day activities will take place at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, MN. The event is free and open to the public and people of all faiths and religious beliefs.
Some camping will be available at the Church of Saint Peter in Mendota (Mendota Powwow grounds) off Sibley Hwy. Space is limited so email first to: WPPDhousing@gmail.com. Hotel and RV info is listed on the WWPD website. For schedule of events and other information, see: www.worldpeaceandprayerday2011.org.
