Sacred First Nations for Peace (SFNP) was founded by Rev. Dr. Linda Lucero Nishikawa under the vision of one God, (Creator, Great Spirit, Heavenly Parent), one home (Mother Earth) and one family, (all human beings) to work toward leaving our ancestors and religious ways for the next seven generations. In solidarity with those working for peace in the family, marriages, tribes, nations, and the world. You can join the monthly Zoom SFNP meeting by giving your email to sacredfirstnationsforpeace@gmail.com. 

The American Clergy Leadership conference and SFNP delegation of Native American spiritual leaders, pastors, reverends, and governmental dignitaries to bless one of the newest spiritual prayer sanctuaries in South Korea. I was invited to be a part of a spiritual delegation that traveled to Seoul, South Korea to bless the Cheon Won Gung Cheon Il Sanctum temple that is a culmination of a Mother Earth, Father Sky, and a heavenly place for inter-faith of all denominations and religions including the Native American Church and Sun Dance ways of life. The vision is to promote peace in the families, unity, and peace under our “Heavenly Parent,” known to the Utes as Numaroghomapughat or Tuvunipighat (Maker of all people and Mother Earth). 

I traveled with Dr. Linda Nishikawa, Pastor Walter Frank, Chief Arvol Looking Horse and his wife of the Lakota Nation, and ten others to South Korea. We had various ceremonies, worship services, and Chief Looking Horse led a prayer in one of the temples, and I shared Ute culture in the World Peace Center, which holds 10,000 people. I wish I had brought my Native Ute flute to play as people from Europe asked me to play a traditional flute song. I did bring my drum and Bear Dance growler in case I was called upon, but our focus was on Korean Culture; they did acknowledge us, and we are a part of the world’s global community of humankind. 

Prior to traveling to Korea I was blessed by the Ute Mountain Ute Sun Dance chief for a safe journey and I got dirt or soil from the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, the Southern Ute Reservation and Ute treaty grounds and took this as an offering to the Temple area and placed upon Mother Earth for a prayer for all Indigenous Native American Tribes for the next seven generations. 

The journey began on April 8, and I returned back to the states on April 15. We enjoyed lots of Korean Food, blessed the lands, and made new friends. I was invited back again to conduct a Native American Church ceremony. For many years the sacred movement led by our Trusted Parents is to unify North and South Korea as many families have been separated for years.  

The principal concept of the Unification Church is that Adam and Eve were to be the first parents of humanity, but did not live up to their full vision by the Creator. The Korean War is when Sun Myung Moon, who was born in North Korea, received a vision from Jesus, was imprisoned in the 1940s and 50s for his belief, was saved by UN soldiers, then married his wife, Hak Ja Han in 1960 and began the Holy Blessing vision. A vision to bring order and peace to our world, and are transformed into True Parents, taking the place of Adam and Eve. Their vision of peace and unity has transformed many people, and at one of the ceremonies, it was announced that the Holy Mother Han is now stepping up to be my mother, a universal mother for all in this time and place, or a true parent since my mother, Selma Baker Winder, is in heaven now. All the details were explained in the Korean language, and it is a beautiful story of how Mother Han wants to bring all the spiritual leaders of Africa, North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia together so that we can have peace. The Moon’s have blessed many political leaders, and now we have a new temple, Cheon Won Gung, which is located on the lower slopes of Cheonseong Mountain.  

The Temple is built so that Creator, our Heavenly Father/Mother, Heavenly Parent, has a place to stay. Cheon means heaven. The union of Earth and sky. Before attending the entrance ceremony, I sang some Bear Dance songs in the early morning. It was supposed to rain all day, and the event had to be modified. Instead of raining all day, it snowed, but the snow did not stick, and the opening ceremony of the Cheon Il Sanctum temple continued; this was on April 13. I actually saw an Eagle, a young bald eagle, and other birds, including water birds, on my walk to the Temple. It was a blessing, and I wished I could have brought my entire family. The Cheon Won Gung is an architectural masterpiece. It was an honor to be at the Cheon Won Gung Cheon Il Sanctum Entrance Ceremony and Cheonshim Peace World Center. The next step is to run a Native American Peyote Ceremony there, but I said perhaps “when I turn 90 years old.” But in hindsight, I do not have to wait that long, as I have gained more friends in South Korea, and some of the women of South Korea are willing to bless the water for me in the morning. 

We also went to shop in one of the marketplaces, I stayed in Dragon City, said Ute prayers early in the morning, and blew a wooden whistle as the United States Fish and Wildlife cautioned me about bringing sacred eagle parts. But now, I know that I can bring my sacred Native American Church and sacred instruments into the country as I did bring my sacred buffalo calf water bird peace pipe into and out of South Korea. 

I was able to take a few photos; I was very busy. Chief Mary Murdock Meyer of the Timpanogos Nation was also a part of the Sacred Nations delegation, and as I stated, Paula and Arvol Looking Horse were there as representatives of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nations.  

“My lifelong goal and determination is to fulfill the dream of God. Our Heavenly Parent longs to live together with all of us, as generations of good and loving people forming the Heavenly Parent’s Holy Community, one family under God. I’m determined to bring that dream into reality during my remaining years.” Holy Mother Han quote from: Mother of Peace, and God shall wipe away all the tears from their eyes.  

I pray for world peace, the unification of North and South Korea without interference of other Nations, and thankful for my Holy Mother Han until such a time that I see my real mother Selma Baker Winder Egaype and both of these sacred women will become sisters in the Happy Hunting Grounds with our Creator. 

World Peace and Prayer Day is June 21, 2025. We need to pray for Mother Earth, sacred sites, all humankind, and peace in our lives.  It was awesome to worship the Great Spirit with all the colors of humanity in unity, peace, and love. All my relations. 

 

EDITOR’S NOTE: ALL LETTERS PUBLISHED IN THE SOUTHERN UTE DRUM ARE PUBLISHED AS SUBMITTED AND DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINION OF THE SOUTHERN UTE DRUM OR THE SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN TRIBE IN ANY WAY.