The Ancestral Puebloan culture's complex astronomy reveals a legacy of…
Voices of the Land
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
This moving film is by Christopher McLeod, one of America's foremost environmental filmmakers (STANDING ON SACRED GROUND; THE FOUR CORNERS).
This time he looks at our spiritual connection to the land and to nature. Through interviews with a Southern Ute elder in Colorado, native Hawaiians protesting geothermal energy development in the rainforest home of the goddess Pele, and Dave Foreman, co-founder of Earth First!, the film explores why certain places are held to be sacred and how wilderness can nourish the soul. In particular, Dave Foreman's lucid explanation of how wilderness can reconnect us to our place in the larger scheme of things is a gem.
Each one of us has a special place that holds deep significance for us. This is a film that builds on that experience. It will make you think and feel, and is guaranteed to generate discussion wherever it is shown.
'With sumptuous, stimulating visuals, and a stark and startling soundtrack...This video reminds us that human beings were a cooperative part of the wilderness until 1,500 years ago...Highly recommended for all libraries, this video can be used effectively with sixth grade and up.' ****Video Rating Guide for Libraries
Citation
Main credits
McLeod, Christopher (film director)
McLeod, Christopher (film producer)
McLeod, Christopher (director of photography)
Bagby, Rachel L. (narrator)
Other credits
Cinematographers, John Knoop, Christopher McLeod; editor, Nancy Brink.
Distributor subjects
American Studies; Environmental Ethics; Humanities; Indigenous Peoples; Native Americans; Philosophy; Religion; Social PsychologyKeywords
WEBVTT
00:00:41.480 --> 00:00:43.620
It
00:00:53.310 --> 00:00:55.910
Has been
00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:16.950
evolving over 4 billion years.
00:01:17.530 --> 00:01:23.040
The only watering hole millions of miles
00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:31.640
We just 12 thousand years
since the last Ice Age.
00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:41.400
A brief time for a human inspiration
and conquest of the Lyle.
00:02:01.570 --> 00:02:06.513
Ancient writing on cliffs
around the world says
00:02:06.514 --> 00:02:14.514
we perform ceremonies and renewal and
here this is a place of the spirit.
00:02:14.930 --> 00:02:18.690
This is sacred land.
00:03:21.910 --> 00:03:27.664
Our grandfathers always
told us go to the mountain.
00:03:27.665 --> 00:03:29.449
Hitting say go to the Helios.
00:03:29.450 --> 00:03:31.054
He said go to the moms
00:03:31.055 --> 00:03:35.659
And that\'s where we go to
the mouse to Stan past and
00:03:35.660 --> 00:03:42.574
amounts to make a connection so that
the whole moms to us it\'s very holy.
00:03:42.575 --> 00:03:46.654
This is where we are
communicating with spirit.
00:03:46.655 --> 00:03:51.964
We can understand we can hear
things that their spiritual ear or
00:03:51.965 --> 00:03:55.339
the spiritual eye the not necessarily a
00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:59.239
physical at this moment but the spirit
shy they can understand the seed things.
00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:04.159
This is where we are and this is where the
mountain is holy place that we go up to
00:04:04.160 --> 00:04:12.160
four Vision Quest or for for fasting to
understand and communicate. That as we go
00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:17.239
people go up into the
mountains to meditate.
00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:23.089
They have to have everything quiet about
them except for the natural sounds.
00:04:23.090 --> 00:04:28.620
When we go up there it\'s a very
secluded place a very quiet place.
00:04:29.110 --> 00:04:33.439
And this is a sacred
part of the environment.
00:04:33.440 --> 00:04:37.189
This all we\'re talking about the
sacredness of the mountains.
00:04:37.190 --> 00:04:38.479
This is what we are telling.
00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:40.769
Do not disturb the sickness of the map.
00:04:40.770 --> 00:04:45.439
This is the level of life and
understanding gotta keep that up.
00:04:45.440 --> 00:04:48.169
And this is what we\'re. This is what is
00:04:48.170 --> 00:04:51.810
happening to all of us would
not quite understand that
00:04:54.690 --> 00:04:58.880
my grandson and I were up on a mountain.
00:04:59.220 --> 00:05:03.459
On the last night we were up and
I had a vision or dream that
00:05:03.460 --> 00:05:07.599
wasn\'t quite a dream but
sounds that come into my mind.
00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:09.669
You came from the frustrated
00:05:09.670 --> 00:05:14.139
where you come from the frustrated
where what are you gonna do about
00:05:14.140 --> 00:05:17.949
it so the purpose of a vision quest up
00:05:17.950 --> 00:05:21.924
there was that we went up
there to learn those things.
00:05:21.925 --> 00:05:26.229
We came from the from the
world of troubled world.
00:05:26.230 --> 00:05:30.924
We amount that trebled world one that
people that are haven\'t lived up problems.
00:05:30.925 --> 00:05:37.919
So as a result the vision we
are gonna do many things more
00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:40.609
for herself and the people saw
00:05:40.610 --> 00:05:45.240
the world can realize that we\'ve got to
have peace and harmony on this earth.
00:05:45.730 --> 00:05:49.939
With our ini and people who have
lattice ceremonies that we conduct.
00:05:49.940 --> 00:05:55.219
And also we have many songs that
tell us and remind us we have
00:05:55.220 --> 00:06:00.859
to continually be involved with our minds
and spirit with the circle of life.
00:06:00.860 --> 00:06:07.650
And this is a song that was given
to me to give to the young people
00:06:57.820 --> 00:07:02.704
In my mind comes the image of a warrior
00:07:02.705 --> 00:07:07.324
Today as we understand that there
are things it\'s going to be coming.
00:07:07.325 --> 00:07:09.349
We will stand fast.
00:07:09.350 --> 00:07:14.419
And saying this song that
we\'re facing head on.
00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:19.294
Then possibly we will go through it.
00:07:19.295 --> 00:07:25.710
We understand and have paid a lot
of things that we have been told
00:07:58.810 --> 00:08:06.524
When you see an eruption whether there\'s
Steve and the beautiful lava manifestations.
00:08:06.525 --> 00:08:11.760
Or when you smell the soft.
00:08:13.090 --> 00:08:17.539
Wherever the Earth is hot at
00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:25.540
spelling is philosophical or theological
00:08:26.285 --> 00:08:31.834
Expression very religious
expression of the where
00:08:31.835 --> 00:08:37.249
the native Hawaiian and other
traditions relate to the land loved
00:08:37.250 --> 00:08:43.774
the land take care of the land and are
responsible for the resources of the land.
00:08:43.775 --> 00:08:49.579
When applied to the rain forests
and forests here no way.
00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:53.059
It\'s got that real deep-seated feeling
00:08:53.060 --> 00:08:56.659
of other traditions that come
down as the Forest traditions.
00:08:56.660 --> 00:09:04.660
Mostly with the goddess Pele and her
sisters who are the forests to our volcano
00:09:10.090 --> 00:09:15.889
Hot steam deep in the earth
generates electric power.
00:09:15.890 --> 00:09:18.930
Geothermal energy.
00:09:19.060 --> 00:09:25.204
Government plans envision 250 wells.
00:09:25.205 --> 00:09:29.269
A maze of roads and transmission lines.
00:09:29.270 --> 00:09:34.650
Thousands of acres of rainforest laws.
00:09:36.370 --> 00:09:41.944
Geothermal development certainly
is an obvious assault to Pelley.
00:09:41.945 --> 00:09:47.764
It\'s a desecration is going
into her sacred body of sorts.
00:09:47.765 --> 00:09:50.689
It\'s ripping up the forests where
00:09:50.690 --> 00:09:55.189
Where she lives on enters this is
live on and developing the wells.
00:09:55.190 --> 00:09:59.509
It\'s the taking of the steam is is it\'s
00:09:59.510 --> 00:10:07.339
the obvious use of steam to further
destroy this island Hawaii.
00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:11.899
And the state is it\'s it\'s
gotta cumulative impact.
00:10:11.900 --> 00:10:15.409
It\'s the socket into development.
00:10:15.410 --> 00:10:18.919
Industrialization is is
read clearly honest way.
00:10:18.920 --> 00:10:22.410
Given this excess energy
00:10:39.210 --> 00:10:41.720
Yeah
00:11:29.830 --> 00:11:32.310
well what
00:11:41.110 --> 00:11:49.110
brought those properties
00:11:51.520 --> 00:11:56.280
have extensive illegally and we will use.
00:12:22.290 --> 00:12:24.740
Right.
00:12:55.320 --> 00:13:01.134
But actually opener forest
is a part of Pele\'s domain.
00:13:01.135 --> 00:13:02.544
There is this fear.
00:13:02.545 --> 00:13:08.514
If she is manipulated into xi if
they put these drills into her bosom
00:13:08.515 --> 00:13:15.129
that it will dissipate her energy and
that it will that she will come no more.
00:13:15.130 --> 00:13:16.839
And I was she barest more.
00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:19.779
Because she is the bearer of the land.
00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:23.324
And as you see you know
what is happening right now
00:13:23.325 --> 00:13:27.649
From kilowatt She has been going
for the past seven years.
00:13:27.650 --> 00:13:33.214
Beginning from when they got their
first permit to drill for geothermal.
00:13:33.215 --> 00:13:37.459
Why she\'s coming now is because of
the greed and the destruction and
00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:41.794
the desecration that the geothermal
energy will do to her domain.
00:13:41.795 --> 00:13:43.879
And this is all of her domain.
00:13:43.880 --> 00:13:47.644
This is where she flow this is
where it she may pop up anytime.
00:13:47.645 --> 00:13:50.734
And this is the island that\'s
still grows because of planning.
00:13:50.735 --> 00:13:55.800
And because she lives
we want her to continue
00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:46.129
Land and my inseparable
advanced unbroken web.
00:14:46.130 --> 00:14:52.579
The well-being of the home affected
by each individual action.
00:14:52.580 --> 00:15:00.210
Endangered species endangered
cultures endangered planet.
00:15:01.150 --> 00:15:06.349
New warriors arrives to defend
dwindling wilderness and they
00:15:06.350 --> 00:15:13.174
adds Homosapien are used
superior or a part of nature.
00:15:13.175 --> 00:15:21.175
And where is home the
answers are old and new
00:15:30.370 --> 00:15:35.944
Wilderness is 3.5 billion
years of evolution.
00:15:35.945 --> 00:15:37.969
It\'s a center of life on the planet.
00:15:37.970 --> 00:15:40.204
It\'s where evolution still operating.
00:15:40.205 --> 00:15:46.024
It\'s the whole flow stream
of energy on the planet.
00:15:46.025 --> 00:15:49.999
And our Western culture were
so fixated on the idea of the
00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:53.419
individual but where life really is is in
00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:57.589
the species in the community the whole
ecosystem that\'s where the flow
00:15:57.590 --> 00:16:01.789
of life is individual really
isn\'t the repository of that.
00:16:01.790 --> 00:16:03.514
And so what we\'re saying
00:16:03.515 --> 00:16:07.969
is that the whole nation of
grizzly bears is important.
00:16:07.970 --> 00:16:12.379
The Aspen forest is important the ecosystem
of the Rockies the mixed conifer
00:16:12.380 --> 00:16:17.389
forest the meadows of foothills the
sage brush. That\'s what\'s important.
00:16:17.390 --> 00:16:18.739
That\'s where the flow is.
00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:20.974
That\'s where we belong as
00:16:20.975 --> 00:16:28.975
integral elements for 99% of
00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:31.249
our existence as human beings we
00:16:31.250 --> 00:16:34.219
have lived in the wilderness
who had been hunter-gatherers.
00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:36.499
My relatives in Northern Europe
00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:40.684
1500 years ago were running
around and bear\'s skin to spares.
00:16:40.685 --> 00:16:42.169
They were a tribal people.
00:16:42.170 --> 00:16:46.114
You don\'t have to just look at
the American Indians or the
00:16:46.115 --> 00:16:49.399
Australian Aborigines or the Bushmen all of
00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:52.489
us no matter what our
ethnic background is are
00:16:52.490 --> 00:16:59.269
victims of the so-called civilised
conquest of the wilderness.
00:16:59.270 --> 00:17:07.099
And we think that dominant Western civilization
that were the top of the food chain.
00:17:07.100 --> 00:17:11.314
So we have more rights because
our machines give us more power.
00:17:11.315 --> 00:17:14.359
That therefore we have
00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:18.484
carte blanche to dominate everything
to destroy it for our own ends.
00:17:18.485 --> 00:17:21.889
That\'s the whole idea of might makes right.
00:17:21.890 --> 00:17:23.719
And that\'s wrong.
00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:28.264
Wilderness as a moral question as
a right to exist for its own sake
00:17:28.265 --> 00:17:31.129
Intrinsic value and how does
00:17:31.130 --> 00:17:35.089
your individual connection to the
wilderness need to your defensively
00:17:35.090 --> 00:17:42.409
Well I don\'t think you can can understand
something I don\'t think you can defend it.
00:17:42.410 --> 00:17:44.584
I don\'t think you can adequately
00:17:44.585 --> 00:17:49.744
appreciate something like
wilderness without experiencing it.
00:17:49.745 --> 00:17:53.209
And I\'m not saying to experience it as as
00:17:53.210 --> 00:17:59.839
a passenger on a McDonalds style fast food
motorized float trip to the Grand Canyon.
00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:03.349
That\'s a Disneyland outdoor experience.
00:18:03.350 --> 00:18:09.379
You can\'t do it by approaching the wilderness
is some mountaineers or kayakers or dirt.
00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:10.774
Bikers du is
00:18:10.775 --> 00:18:15.049
as a playground as something that
conquered to prove your mastery
00:18:15.050 --> 00:18:20.419
over you have to approach
wilderness and an a humble fashion.
00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:22.474
You have to approach it openly.
00:18:22.475 --> 00:18:25.789
You have to approach it
spiritually to listen to
00:18:25.790 --> 00:18:29.419
the aspen trees delay in the meadow
and see what the spiders can tell
00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:36.424
you to to listen to the sound that the birds
wings like 1000 feet above you in there
00:18:36.425 --> 00:18:41.479
the goose music to feel the seasons
to know that to the wilderness
00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:47.329
your insignificant it doesn\'t care if you\'re
hot or cold or thirsty or wet or miserable.
00:18:47.330 --> 00:18:49.939
But you\'re part of it.
00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.799
And by being part of it
00:18:51.800 --> 00:18:56.359
even though that makes you feel small and
insignificant and makes you feel so much
00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:58.519
larger and stronger because you\'re part
00:18:58.520 --> 00:19:00.829
of this whole flow of life
you\'re the grizzly bear.
00:19:00.830 --> 00:19:03.874
Here are the allocator the aspen grove.
You\'re the mountain.
00:19:03.875 --> 00:19:08.179
You\'re the strain. You\'re the
glacier you\'re the wind the rain.
00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:12.469
And when you can do that I
think you really do understand
00:19:12.470 --> 00:19:17.359
wilderness that gives you the
energy the creativity and
00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:21.769
the power and the passion to go out and
defend it because you\'re defending
00:19:21.770 --> 00:19:27.240
yourself and it\'s not just you acting
it\'s it\'s everything acting through you
Distributor: Bullfrog Films
Length: 21 minutes
Date: 1991
Genre: Expository
Language: Not available
Grade: 7-12, College, Adult
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Docuseek? Register to request a quote.