by Aline Souza Barros

Hayward, Wisconsin (Special to Akiing)

On a very cold April 22 morning more then 40 people, kids and adults, helped to plant a white pine called the “Tree of Peace” at Sawyer County Historical Society Museum, Hayward. The planting was to commemorate the 36th anniversary of Earth Day.

The ceremony started a little after 11:30 a.m., with the passing of tobacco and Dennis White, Lac Courte Oreilles School cultural director, saying the prayers in Ojibwe. His wife Cleo was there helping.

Then John Anderson, LCO professor, used his drum and sang a welcome song. “The original reason for this event is to make people talk more about peace,” Anderson said.

Pastor Lynn Larson of Cable played a guitar and everybody sang a song to the tune “Amazing Grace” to honor the tree. After that, everyone offered tobacco to the spirits and placed it at the base of the tree. The ceremony finished with a feast.