Holding Hope: Indigenous Horses & Community SAR
The first Native-led mounted team using equine air scent detection, responding to MMIP with lived experience, cultural knowledge, and community resilience.
Holding Hope is the first Indigenous-led mounted search & rescue team using equine air scent detection in the nation. Founded by Arden’s parents and Diana Burd as an initiative of Two Powers Land Collective, we honor Arden’s memory and keep her search alive. Our team combines traditional horsemanship, lived experience, and modern SAR techniques to respond to missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP) with culturally grounded care and community-led solutions. We also honor the legacy of Wyatt Mad Plume and the strength of Blackfeet horse culture, demonstrating that healing, safety, and leadership are intergenerational and relational—between humans, horses, and the Land.
Our Work
Our horses are trailblazers—the first Indigenous-owned horses in the nation trained in equine air scent detection. Courageous and intelligent, they are more than tools—they are partners, teachers, and leaders, guiding our teams through challenging terrain and supporting community healing.
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What We Do
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Mounted Equine Air Scent Search & Rescue: Locating missing community members across rugged terrain.
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MMIP Response: Immediate, culturally grounded support for families and communities.
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Honoring Arden: Continuing Arden’s search while preserving Wyatt’s legacy of resilience and cultural pride.
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Youth & Community Leadership: Honoring Wyatt's Legacy through Mentorship, cultural knowledge sharing, and equine horsemanship programs that strengthen resilience, identity, and leadership.
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Request Our Support
Holding Hope provides culturally grounded mounted equine air scent search & rescue services for families, communities, and agencies responding to missing Indigenous persons. Our trained team of humans and horses is ready to assist with searches, provide guidance, and support families during crises.
406-845-6121