Mrs. Dottie Chicquelo, Assistant Director of the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education (OMSE) at the University of Maryland (UMD) invited the Maryland Chapter of WFWP to be a co-sponsor of the 9th Annual Powwow on Saturday, December 7, 2013, and to conduct a Bridge of Peace Ceremony at the gathering. Mrs. Chicquelo had also played a crucial role as the liaison to the University of Maryland during the WFWP 21st National Assembly earlier this year. She felt so inspired by her own experience on the Bridge of Peace that she got the approval of OMSE for WFWP to hold a Bridge of Peace ceremony during the Powwow.

The Powwow was scheduled on Pearl Harbor Day. The intent was to offer an opportunity to those in attendance to stand up and reconcile with former enemies of war. After the Grand Entry to open the powwow, Mrs. Angelika Selle offered an explanation of the history of the Bridge of Peace. A nine-member Japanese Women's Choir then warmed the audience when they sang, "Hand in Hand." Their singing lifted the atmosphere and deepened the ceremony.

Earlier that morning, in preparation for the bridge crossing, the participants gathered in a separate room to share their hearts deeply, sometimes in tears, and to listen to one another. This created an atmosphere of acknowledgement, repentance, and forgiveness, and made a foundation for substantial healing to take place on the bridge. Through this foundation those in the audience could experience the Creator's heart of unconditional love moving in the room from heart to heart.

Six representative pairs crossed the bridge to reconcile those of Japanese ancestry with Native American veterans of war, and Native American veterans with Americans of European descent. Each pair stood and bowed deeply, walked forward and exchanged gifts representing their respective cultures: Indian corn and white origami cranes. They embraced on the bridge, held hands and walked through the arch, arms raised. Their pledge and hope is to build a personal relationship of understanding and respect for each other, and to become true friends and brothers and sisters who can hear each other's hearts.

Then WFWP presented a gift to Dr. Lester and a special plaque to Mrs. Dottie Chicquelo. Dr. Christopher Lester, Director of OMSE said, "The Bridge of Peace Ceremony was deeply moving. It deserves to cause a ripple effect for reconciliation far and wide."

Everyone then joined into the powwow festivities, had a taste of traditional culinary delights, and enjoyed the traditional inter-tribal gathering that has been observed by America's First People for more generations than can be counted. It was a good opportunity to experience the culture and traditions that were born on this continent.

Healing America's Wounds was the theme of the Bridge of Peace at the WFWP USA 21st Assembly in October. Mrs. Dottie Chicquelo and Mrs. Brenda Miller had crossed the bridge representing a commitment by WFWP USA members to give substance to the much needed healing between America's First People and Americans of European descent. That foundation was further expanded by the powwow bridge participants who shared their stories and crossed the Bridge of Peace on Pearl Harbor Day 2013. This ceremony visibly touched many in the audience through the emotions and the healing present in the room. It was a significant step forward towards healing America's First People.