Welcome to The BridgeKeepers Project
The BridgeKeepers are all around us. You've known some, perhaps. You might even be one, yourself. BridgeKeepers are individuals who have "built bridges" in this world - by uniting people, connecting cultures, sharing wisdom or art, taking a stand for change, and many other actions or ideas that propel us forward and bring us all together. Each BridgeKeeper has accomplished something of merit that we feel is inspirational, impactful and worth sharing. You will find writers, musicians, leaders, teachers, pioneers, and other special contributors. Many share the common messages of unity, peace and understanding, and standing up for change.
Our first BridgeKeeper to be featured was none other than my good friend, mentor, and the incredibly talented writer, Harvey Arden. Our second BridgeKeeper, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, is a spiritual leader of the Lakota people, and has dedicated his life to sharing the messages of World Peace and Unity. Our third BridgeKeeper is Bob Lemmons, who rose from slavery to become a very successful rancher, landowner and one of the more remarkable Mustangers and Black Cowboys from early Texas. Our most recent addition is Edna Gordon, a Seneca Hawk Elder, who shared her wisdom through stories, writing, and her poetry.
Our first BridgeKeeper to be featured was none other than my good friend, mentor, and the incredibly talented writer, Harvey Arden. Our second BridgeKeeper, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, is a spiritual leader of the Lakota people, and has dedicated his life to sharing the messages of World Peace and Unity. Our third BridgeKeeper is Bob Lemmons, who rose from slavery to become a very successful rancher, landowner and one of the more remarkable Mustangers and Black Cowboys from early Texas. Our most recent addition is Edna Gordon, a Seneca Hawk Elder, who shared her wisdom through stories, writing, and her poetry.
Meet The BridgeKeepers
HARVEY ARDEN
Many knew Harvey Arden as the world famous author and National Geographic writer of 23 years. Later in his career, Harvey worked primarily on projects with Indigenous Elders from all around the world, including extensive time working with Native American Indians. Harvey wrote and edited nearly a dozen books, created a few screenplays, and recorded a handful of spoken word musical projects. Each one is worth reading or hearing, and I hope you will take the opportunity to check them out some day. |
CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE
Arvol was born on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota in 1954. He was raised by his grandparents, who taught him the spiritual ways of the Lakota. When he was 12, he became the 19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe. He has made it his mission to "work for change and let the world know how beautiful our way of life is, so the seventh generation can have a better future." We invite you to explore more about Arvol and the important messages and work he is a part of. |
BOB LEMMONS
Robert "Bob" Lemmons was born a slave in Lockhart, TX (Caldwell County) in 1847. He became one of the most notorious cowboys of early Texas, and made an unprecedented rise in traditional social and economic status - from a slave to a rancher and landowner. Bob was one of the greatest mustangers of all time. He became a legend in his day by perfecting his unique method of catching wild mustang horses - by himself and his horse. Bob lived a very storied life and left behind a treasure trove of stories. There were many Black Cowboys that left their mark on history, and Bob was no exception. I hope you enjoy learning more about him and his storied life. |
EDNA GORDON
Edna "Grandma" Gordon, was an Elder of the Hawk (Henhawk) Clan of the Seneca Nation, which is one of the six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. She lived on the Cattaraugus Territory, just south of Buffalo, NY. Edna was a strong woman, and loved to write stories, poetry, and share her messages with the world. She wrote dozens of self published booklets and had two major book publications, Voice of the Hawk Elder, and The Broomstick Revolution. We will be continuing to share her words and messages, and the wonderful videos from interviews and gatherings she attended and hosted. |
The BridgeKeepers Project welcomes you to join our community. Please fill out the form below if you would like to be added to our newsletter. We will send out monthly announcements when we launch a new page for our next BridgeKeeper. If you have any suggestions, please let us know by visiting out Contact page. Thank You!
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2020 World Peace & Prayer Day - a message from Chief Arvol Looking Horse
June 21st, 2020 marked the 25th anniversary of World Peace and Prayer Day. We are all encouraged to come together in prayer on this date every year - people of all faith, all backgrounds - to pray for a Great Healing. To pray for Forgiveness and Peace. Many will gathered around Sacred Sites all over the World on June 21st, as Chief Arvol Looking Horse has done for the past 25 years, encouraging us all to Unite in Prayer!
www.WorldPeaceandPrayer.com
Remembering HARVEY ARDEN (Sept. 25, 1935 - Nov. 17, 2018)
Many knew Harvey Arden as the world famous author and National Geographic writer of 23 years. Later in his career, Harvey worked primarily on projects with Indigenous Elders from all around the world, including extensive time working with Native American Indians. Harvey wrote and edited nearly a dozen books, created a few screenplays, and recorded a handful of spoken word musical projects. Each one is worth reading or hearing, and I hope you will take the opportunity, someday.
In the early 2000's, Harvey and I were part of a project that focused on meeting with Indigenous Elders and Leaders, worldwide, and preserving their stories, history, and messages they wanted to share with future generations. Harvey had an amazing ability to provide a comfortable space for people to open up and share freely with him. I would set up my recording equipment and when we would sit down with whoever we were meeting with that day, Harvey would often ask, "what would you care to share with us?" That usually sparked a fire in the room, and we were honored to sit and listen to every minute. I recall very vividly, that question turning into a 9.5 hour talk with Seneca Hawk Elder, Edna Gordon!
It was that kind of thing that distinguished Harvey - he genuinely wanted to share the voices, stories, teachings, and wisdom of people from around the world, and he wanted to share it in the most authentic way possible. He believed in sharing the truth, uniting people and "building bridges" of understanding between cultures. One day, I mentioned something about how this work made us "BridgeKeepers" - a nod to the titles of his previous books, Wisdomkeepers & Dreamkeepers. He turned to me, very excited, and said, "George - yes, we are the BridgeKeepers! We have sacred work to do! We need to build bridges of understanding, of unity, of human experience, and we need to guard that sacred information and share it with the world! The world needs this now more than ever!"
Harvey may no longer be with us on this earth, but his spirit and his dreams are very much alive - in the hearts and minds of people all around the world. He was called to work on connecting people and bringing us closer together, so we could build a better life together, globally. He wanted to share the wisdom, dreams, and stories of people, so we could all learn from them, and become better humans in the process. He was, and will always be, a BridgeKeeper! Aho!
~George Bowe Blitch
In the early 2000's, Harvey and I were part of a project that focused on meeting with Indigenous Elders and Leaders, worldwide, and preserving their stories, history, and messages they wanted to share with future generations. Harvey had an amazing ability to provide a comfortable space for people to open up and share freely with him. I would set up my recording equipment and when we would sit down with whoever we were meeting with that day, Harvey would often ask, "what would you care to share with us?" That usually sparked a fire in the room, and we were honored to sit and listen to every minute. I recall very vividly, that question turning into a 9.5 hour talk with Seneca Hawk Elder, Edna Gordon!
It was that kind of thing that distinguished Harvey - he genuinely wanted to share the voices, stories, teachings, and wisdom of people from around the world, and he wanted to share it in the most authentic way possible. He believed in sharing the truth, uniting people and "building bridges" of understanding between cultures. One day, I mentioned something about how this work made us "BridgeKeepers" - a nod to the titles of his previous books, Wisdomkeepers & Dreamkeepers. He turned to me, very excited, and said, "George - yes, we are the BridgeKeepers! We have sacred work to do! We need to build bridges of understanding, of unity, of human experience, and we need to guard that sacred information and share it with the world! The world needs this now more than ever!"
Harvey may no longer be with us on this earth, but his spirit and his dreams are very much alive - in the hearts and minds of people all around the world. He was called to work on connecting people and bringing us closer together, so we could build a better life together, globally. He wanted to share the wisdom, dreams, and stories of people, so we could all learn from them, and become better humans in the process. He was, and will always be, a BridgeKeeper! Aho!
~George Bowe Blitch
"They can build walls but we can build bridges - and we can be part of the change" - Michael Franti