February 21st-24th, Golden Drum will support a prayer walk led by Omaha Nation Elder Nathan Philips and the Native Youth Alliance. This is the exact prayer walk that closed Standing Rock and is continuing the mission to protect the waters. A new 4-year prayer to the 4 directions will open this year in New York City to honor the East gate. We welcome all to join this walk which will continue its journey through the South, West, and North around the country in the coming years.
We will meet at sunrise each of the 4 days for the opening prayers, as well as at sunset some days for closing prayers. Each morning we will begin with a sunrise prayer around 7:00am in Transmitter Park. Please arrive a few minutes before 7:00am. From there, participants are invited back to Golden Drum for tea, coffee and muffins before setting off to the different locations of each Prayer Walk. The Prayer Walks take place daily 12:00-2:30pm. See below for the starting locations.
Each day the prayer will be held in a different direction, starting with the East.
Walk Locations:
(**Please note that this is a tentative schedule and subject to change, as the prayer is open to all who need the prayers or suggestions as to where the prayer should go.)
Wednesday, February 21: East, start at UN and walk to East 34th Street Ferry Terminal, then back across the East River to India St.
Thursday, February 22: South, American Indian Museum
Friday, February 23: West, Columbus Circle / Central Park
Saturday, February 24: North, waterfall north of city
Gathering: There will also be an informal meeting taking place at Jungle Cafe in Brooklyn on Friday following the 5:30pm sunset prayer in Transmitter Park.
This walk is being put together by Native Youth Alliance. If you would like to send a donation, please make it out to Native Youth Alliance via PayPal (nativeyouthalliance@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Native-Youth-Alliance) or CashApp ($NativeYouthAlliance - Nathan Phillips). Thank you!
Nathan Philips is an Omaha Nation Elder and foremost water protector known for his prayers and solidarity against the Dakota Access Pipeline and for life. He is the founder of the Native Youth Alliance, a grassroots indigenous awareness organization that put out the call for the walk.