ABOUT BLUE HERON Tióšpaye

Blue Heron Tióšpaye was originally founded by two dedicated cultural leaders, Bill Achord and Antonio Laravie, with a shared purpose: to preserve and protect the ceremonial lifeways of American Indian people. Their vision created a place for Indigenous relatives of the Great Plains to gather, practice ceremony, reconnect with cultural identity, and pass forward teachings rooted in ancestral knowledge. 

As the organization has evolved and leadership transitioned to Steve Laravie Jr., the vision has expanded into land restoration, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and cultural programming that strengthens community identity and ecological responsibility. Under this new direction, a dedicated team has been formed to guide the land toward restoration, ceremony, and future sustainability. The work now includes prairie management, cultural land stewardship, and seasonal programming grounded in ceremonial teachings, the Horse Nation, Buffalo Nation, and the use of fire as a traditional ecological practice.