Arvol Looking Horse
Arvol Looking Horse (born 1954) is a Lakota Native American spiritual leader. He is the 19th keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and Bundle.[1][2]
He is a leading voice in the protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).[3][4]
History
Early life and career
Arvol Looking Horse was born in 1954 on the
The Looking Horse family are the keepers of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, which Lakota tradition teaches was gifted to the
Due to his parents being involved in
Big Foot Memorial Ride
Since 1986, Looking Horse has led a group on the Big Foot Memorial Ride, which retraces the final journey of
Other activities
Looking Horse has conducted prayers and speeches in support of climate change action and against projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline at the UN General Assembly and at the 1997 inauguration of President Bill Clinton.[1] He attended the March for Science in Washington, D.C., to push for climate change response.[3]
Due to
In 1994, a rare white buffalo calf was born and Looking Horse traveled to many sacred sites to perform the Four Direction ceremony in honor of the calf. To further promote this birth, Looking Horse created the World Peace and Prayer Day in 1996 for people of all faiths to support world peace and environmentalism.[11] Subsequent ceremonies for World Peace Day were held in Canada in 1997, Minnesota in 1998, Costa Rica in 1999, and the final ceremony in the Lakota region of South Dakota in 2000. With this, Looking Horse felt he had completed the ceremonial purpose of honoring the four directions and finishing in the center, meaning his part of the day was done and he turned over future organization of it to the broader international community. Another set of five ceremonies was performed around the world from 2001 to 2005, before it was suggested to the UN in 2005 to make the day into an officially recognized "Honoring Sacred Sites Day". To help keep the ceremony organized and funded, Looking Horse and other Indian elders formed the Wolakota Foundation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, to help promote the spiritual traditions of indigenous peoples around the world.[12]
On May 10, 2003, during the Bear Butte Protection of Ceremonies meeting, Looking Horse made a Proclamation that non-Indians would not be allowed to attend Lakota ceremonies, due to ongoing exploitation and appropriation of Native American spiritual practices.[13]
Awards and honors
He received The Wolf Award of Canada in 1996, given to a person who has dedicated his life to working for peace.[14] He has also received The United Nations Juliet Hollister Temple of Understanding Award in 2006.[11] In 1996 the city of New Orleans honored Chief Looking Horse by proclaiming August 27 "Day of the White Bison", and by the donation of the key to the city by the mayor.[15] In 2017, the Malibu Guitar Festival presented him with a humanitarian award.[3]
Personal life
Looking Horse's son, Cody Looking Horse, is a member of the Standing Rock Youth Council and was active in the
Bibliography
- Looking Horse, Arvol; Arden, Harvey; Horn, Paula (2001). White Buffalo Teachings from Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Pipe of the Lakota, Dakota & Nakota Great Sioux Nation. Dreamkeepers Press. 2nd edition, published by HYT Publishing
References
- ^ a b c Teran, Emmet; Regan, Sarah (October 13, 2016). "White Buffalo Teachings: Warning Signs at the Crossroads". The Wesleyan Argus. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Elbein, Saul (January 31, 2017). "The Youth Group That Launched a Movement at Standing Rock". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Fordham, Claire (May 28, 2017). "The Horseman". The Malibu Times. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Looking Horse, Arvol (February 22, 2018). "Standing Rock is everywhere: one year later". The Guardian. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0806121661.
- ^ JSTOR 25162545. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9781440627620.
- ISBN 9780252066696.
- Harper San Francisco.
- ^ Moulton, Kristen (February 18, 2006). "Mending the severed Hoop of Life". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Rave, Jodi (October 18, 2006). "U.N. to honor Sioux spiritual leader". Missoulian. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ISBN 9781598842050.
- ISBN 9781441165817.
- ^ "Arvol Looking Horse". Native Directions. 6–11 (1). University of North Dakota: 14. 1998. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- Huffington Post. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Looking Horse, Cody (September 13, 2018). "My Journey at Standing Rock by Cody Looking Horse". News From Indian Country. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
Further reading
- Losure, Mary (2002). Our Way Or the Highway: Inside the Minnehaha Free State. ISBN 9781452905587.
External links
- Arvol Looking Horse at IMDb