As we prepared to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Sacred Land Film Project, we reflected on the generosity and wisdom of four indigenous elders, now revered ancestors, who trusted us to tell their story. Thomas Banyacya (Hopi), Vine Deloria, Jr. (Lakota), Florence Jones (Winnemem Wintu) and Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli (Kānaka Maoli) shared their thoughts, values and stories with us and we thank them with this short film of remembrance to honor our collaboration.
On April 30, 2024, escrow closed on the purchase of the West Berkeley Shellmound site at 1900 Fourth Street in Berkeley. Title to the 2.2-acre sacred site transferred immediately to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, a women-led indigenous land trust, making this the biggest urban Land Back victory in California history.
Remembering, with deep sadness, the brilliant Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli, who passed away in 2022. Emmett helped us tell the story of the Protect Kaho`olawe Ohana’s 50-year campaign to stop the bombing of a sacred Hawaiian island and to restore both the island and Native Hawaiian cultural practices.
In May 2020, while clearing the way for a mine expansion, the transnational mining company Rio Tinto set off explosives that destroyed a site sacred to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people in Western Australia. The site included the Juukan Gorge Rock Dwellings, which have evidence of human habitation dating back 46,000 years. The mining company placed their explosives meters from the rock shelters with full permission of the Australian government—and after misleading Traditional Owners.
Berkeley was the first city in the Bay Area to recognize that its citizens live on Ohlone land by revising street signs to read “Welcome to Berkeley, Ohlone Territory.” On May 22, 2022, Ohlone activists and their allies painted an Ohlone Territory mural on Center St. next to City Hall and touched up “Black Lives Matter” on nearby Allston St. We bring you highlights from a beautiful spring day.
Native Hawaiian historian and land protector Davianna Pomaika`i McGregor is a leader in the Protect Kaho`olawe Ohana. In this second part of our interview, Davianna relates the history of settler colonialism and the impact of Christian missionaries as she delves into Native Hawaiian spirituality and traditional cultural practices.
Native Hawaiian historian and land protector Davianna Pomaika`i McGregor is a leader in the Protect Kaho`olawe Ohana. In this Audio Archive episode, we discuss the U.S. military occupation of Kaho`olawe and the movement to return the sacred island to Native Hawaiian stewardship after 50 years of bombing by the Navy. This story of cultural and ecological restoration offers hope to indigenous people around the world.
Onondaga elder Oren Lyons is one of the “big thinkers” we interviewed for our four-part series, Standing on Sacred Ground.
In Part Two of this two-part podcast, Oren explains the Haudenosaunee influence on the creation of the American government, shares a unique interpretation of The Wizard of Oz, and offers guidance toward a way out of our current predicament.
Onondaga elder Oren Lyons is one of the “big thinkers” we interviewed for our four-part series, Standing on Sacred Ground. Now in his 90s, Oren Lyons is a chief, a faithkeeper, and a long-time messenger for the Haudenosaunee people. Throughout our interview, Oren shared life lessons and insights through long stories that we could never include in their entirety in the film. We are thrilled to finally have the opportunity to share Oren’s insights.
In Part One of this two-part podcast, Oren tells the story of the Peacemaker and provides a pathway forward to protect sacred places.
Heyday books gave Lisjan Ohlone leader Corrina Gould their 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award in October. We created this video for the Heyday Harvest online event to illustrate Corrina’s lifelong commitment to preserving the culture and sacred sites of the Ohlone people, and in recognition of her activism and leadership among California Indians and beyond.