Sacred Land Speaks
Over four decades of filmmaking, we’ve had the honor of interviewing visionary Indigenous leaders, scholars and activists who offer soulful words on the kinship of humans and nature, the profound importance of protecting sacred places, and pathways toward global healing and reconciliation. In the editing process, we used many 30-second gems but left most of those interviews on the cutting room floor—until now! Sacred Land Speaks brings you extended interviews with some of our world’s most insightful thinkers.
Episodes

Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
Winona LaDuke – Part Two
Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
In part two of our interview with Anishnaabe activist, environmentalist and writer, Winona LaDuke, we focus on her economic analysis of settler colonialism, the ecological impacts of consumer demand in the United States, and the rippling effects of the oil industry from the tar sands of Alberta to the shores of Lake Superior.
This episode was produced and written by Fiona McLeod, Callie Shanafelt Wong and Toby McLeod.
Our interview with Winona LaDuke was recorded by Andy Black and Dave Wendlinger in collaboration with co-producer Jennifer Huang and writer Jessica Abbe. Our theme music was composed and performed by Stefan Smith and Charles Johnson.
We welcome you to download and play the podcast for personal use. You may not, except with our express written permission, reproduce, distribute or commercially exploit this copyrighted content.

Wednesday Feb 19, 2025
Winona LaDuke – Part One
Wednesday Feb 19, 2025
Wednesday Feb 19, 2025
Over a career spanning 40 years of activism, Winona LaDuke, an enrolled member of the Mississippi Band Anishinaabeg in Minnesota, has led movements for climate justice and indigenous rights. Over the years she published ten books, ran for vice president, led innovative grassroots environmental movements, fought and delayed the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline from the Alberta tar sands through northern Minnesota. In this Audio Archive episode, Winona articulates an indigenous worldview, grapples with the traumas of colonization, and imagines a path toward healing.
This episode was produced and written by Fiona McLeod, Callie Shanafelt Wong and Toby McLeod.
Our interview with Winona LaDuke was recorded by Andy Black and Dave Wendlinger in collaboration with co-producer Jennifer Huang and writer Jessica Abbe. Our theme music was composed and performed by Stefan Smith and Charles Johnson.
We welcome you to download and play the podcast for personal use. You may not, except with our express written permission, reproduce, distribute or commercially exploit this copyrighted content.

Sunday Jan 19, 2025
Vine Deloria Jr. – Part Two
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
In this second part of our 1997 interview with legendary lawyer, theologian and scholar, Vine Deloria Jr., the renowned author breaks down national policy in relation to native people, discusses his cultural identity, and makes predictions about the future of technology.
This episode was produced and written by Callie Shanafelt Wong and Toby McLeod, and recorded by Isaac Butler-Brown at Dirt Studios. Audio sweetening by Leroy Clark at Sirius Sound.
Our film interview with Vine was recorded by Will Parrinello and Andy Black along with co-producers Malinda Maynor Lowery and Jessica Abbe. Our theme music was composed and performed by Stefan Smith and Charles Johnson.
We welcome you to download and play the podcast for personal use. You may not, except with our express written permission, reproduce, distribute or commercially exploit this copyrighted content.

Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Vine Deloria Jr. – Part One
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Legendary author, legal and religious scholar, professor and activist, Vine Deloria, Jr. shares profound insights into the function of ceremony in community, the meaning and importance of sacred places, the dangers of New Age appropriation, the environmental impact of Western religions, and the urgent need to re-weave spirit and matter if we hope to avert catastrophe.
This episode was produced and written by Callie Shanafelt Wong and Toby McLeod, and recorded by Isaac Butler-Brown at Dirt Studios. Audio sweetening by Leroy Clark at Sirius Sound.
Our film interview with Vine was recorded by Will Parrinello and Andy Black along with co-producers Malinda Maynor Lowery and Jessica Abbe. Our theme music was composed and performed by Stefan Smith and Charles Johnson.
We welcome you to download and play the podcast for personal use. You may not, except with our express written permission, reproduce, distribute or commercially exploit this copyrighted content.

Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Winnemem Top Doctor Florence Jones
Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Native California healer Florence Jones (1907-2003), was the top doctor of the Winnemem Wintu and a fierce protector of Mt. Shasta, known to the Winnemem as Buliyum Puyuk—the Great Mountain. In 1994, Florence gave the Sacred Land Film Project unprecedented access to film her conducting ceremony, healing her people and protecting her territory. In this episode we return to that footage to tell the story of this powerful medicine woman.
This episode was produced and written by Callie Shanafelt Wong and Toby McLeod, with research and editing assistance from Jessica Abbe.
Our film footage with Florence Jones was recorded by John Knoop, Andy Black and Will Parrinello. Our theme music was composed by Stefan Smith and Charles Johnson. Thanks to Claire Cummings, Dorothea Theodoratus and John Veltri for interviewing Florence on Mt. Shasta and to Chief Caleen Sisk for reviewing this Audio Archive episode.
We welcome you to download and play this podcast for personal use. However, you may not reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit this copyrighted content without express written permission from the Sacred Land Film Project and the Winnemem Wintu Tribe.

From the Audio Archives of the
Sacred Land Film Project
Since 1984, Earth Island Institute’s Sacred Land Film Project has produced a variety of media and educational materials — films, videos, DVDs, articles, photographs, reports, school curricula materials and Web content — to deepen public understanding of sacred places, indigenous cultures and environmental justice.
Our mission is to use film, journalism and education to rekindle reverence for land, increase respect for cultural diversity, stimulate dialogue about connections between nature and culture, and help protect sacred lands and diverse spiritual practices.
Future podcast episodes will feature Anishnaabe activist, environmentalist and writer Winona LaDuke, legendary Standing Rock Sioux scholar Vine Deloria, Jr., Haudenosaunee Faithkeeper Oren Lyons, Native Hawaiian historian Davianna Pomaika`i MacGregor and writer Barry Lopez.