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More than five years after Arden Pepion disappeared from Browning, Montana, search teams returned to...
www.missingkids.org
Update: Search Efforts Continue for Arden Pepion
More than five years after Arden Pepion disappeared from Browning, Montana, search teams returned to the area this summer with hopes of finding answers.
Earlier this month on Aug. 7 and 8, a search took place in the Two Medicine River area approximately one mile from where Arden disappeared. The initiative was led by Holding Hope SAR, the first Indigenous-led mounted search and rescue team in Montana. They use equine air scent detection, a search tool that allows specially trained horses to detect scent carried through the air, alongside modern search and rescue techniques to respond to missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP) cases.
Holding Hope SAR is a part of Two Powers Land Collective, a nonprofit serving the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The organization honors its heritage and supports their community through equine-based healing, search and rescue, youth development and cultural programs.
Each summer when the water levels reduce, Holding Hope SAR leads a search for Arden where multiple agencies and volunteer groups come together. As the years go on, search teams face changing conditions as sand, rocks and other natural materials shift throughout the area. Despite these challenges, they continue to push forward in their efforts to find Arden.
“We need to make sure no one forgets Arden. She was very loved and will always be missed,” Diana Burd said. “Right now, we need to focus on clearing the sand and rock in the area because it continues to build every year.”
Diana and her husband joined the search for Arden shortly after her disappearance in April 2021. They later became her godparents at the request of Arden’s mother, Arbana, before her death in 2022. Diana co-founded Holding Hope SAR in July 2021 to continue searching for Arden and help other Indigenous families looking for loved ones.
“As long as Arden is missing, we will continue to search for her and others who are missing.” Diana said.
Before she disappeared, Arden was under the care of her aunt and uncle who lived near the Two Medicine River. According to her uncle, at some point Arden walked away from the home while he was elsewhere on the property. After searching the surrounding area and nearby town for several hours, he reported Arden missing to law enforcement.
Arden’s disappearance prompted an immediate response from the Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services (BLES) and the Blackfeet Reservation community. Diana Burd, a member of the community, still remembers that night clearly.
“I had never met Arden or her family before she went missing, but I woke up to a call from my neighbor at 1 a.m. asking for our help,” Diana said.
Diana and her husband joined the late-night search for Arden, which turned into a large-scale effort that continued for the next 10 days. Eventually, more than 150 members of the Blackfeet community volunteered, searching on foot, horseback and four-wheelers across land and water.
Despite extensive efforts, Arden was never located. The only clues discovered were footprints believed to be hers and one of her boots near the river. With limited evidence and no recovery, authorities say the circumstances of her disappearance remain unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.
Following Arden’s disappearance, her parents, Aaron and Arbana Pepion, grew close with Diana and her husband, who were at the forefront of every search. Tragically, Arbana passed away in 2022. Aaron continues to hold onto their shared hope that Arden will be found.
“Whenever I can, I go down to the river,” Aaron said. “And I tell Arden, ‘I’ll never stop searching for you. We all love and miss you and will always be here for you.’”
Before her death, Arbana asked Diana and her husband to serve as Arden’s godparents.
In July 2021, Diana co-founded
Holding Hope SAR, named by Arbana, to continue the search for Arden. “Arbana said, 'We will help others because of Arden someday,’ and we did,” Diana shared.
In January 2025, they became officially recognized as the first Indigenous-led mounted equine search and rescue team in Montana, now assisting on cases of missing Indigenous individuals across the state.
Due to conditions such as reduced water levels, large-scale searches are scheduled to take place in July.
