WVU Peace Tree Ceremony
A highlight of the academic year is the annual Peace Tree Ceremony. The university community welcomes Morgantown-area residents and members of the local Native American communities to campus to join in this important tradition.
The 2006 Peace Studies Lecture and Peace Tree Ceremony took place October 16th and 17th, respectively. We were honored that Chief Arvol Looking Horse (Lakota), along with Paula Horne-Mullen (Dakota) presided. He is the19th-generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe for the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people and founder of World Peace and Prayer Day. Several hundred audience members listened to their words during their two-day visit to WVU.
Over the years, numerous other Native leaders have joined us to commemorate our WVU Peace Tree and share their unique cultural traditions. Most recently, Cherokee/Appalachian writer Awiakta, Chippewa Chief Robert TallTree and his wife Terri Lynn Tall Tree, Delaware/Mohawk traditional teacher and healer Tim Brown “Wut-tun-nee,” and Tuscarora agronomist Dr. Jane Mt. Pleasant have presided.