Synopsis

The documentary investigates the pervasive appropriation and commodification of Native American spiritual traditions by outsiders, with a specific focus on the experiences of Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota leaders like Chief Arvol Looking Horse and activists from Standing Rock (Horns of the White Buffalo Society).

It traces the historic erasure and suppression of Indigenous lifeways by colonial powers, then examines how contemporary non-Native individuals and New Age entrepreneurs extract sacred ceremonies – such as sweat lodges and vision quests – for profit or personal fulfillment, often disregarding tribal protocols and the damaging impact on living Native communities.

Through personal testimony, archival history, and sharp critique, the film reveals how the commodification and misrepresentation of Native spirituality perpetuate cultural genocide, ongoing poverty, and the erasure of Indigenous identity, all while Indigenous activists fight for respect, legal protection, and the preservation of authentic spiritual traditions. Rather than dealing in universalist rhetoric or offering decontextualized spiritual experience, the documentary demands a reckoning with the legacies of colonization and a commitment to Indigenous sovereignty, inviting viewers to reflect deeply on what genuine respect and responsibility require in cross-cultural relations.