Within hours of their first meeting, Oglala Lakota Medicine Man, Sidney Hasnohorses, divulged the ultimate nature of his beliefs to filmmaker Salvatore Consalvi: “We do not practice our religion, we live our religion.” Taking place between a smoldering fire and the willow frame of a sweat lodge, these extemporaneous conversations were honest, courageous, and riveting.
Yet the words themselves felt like echoes of native wisdom from the intentions of grandfathers like famed ceremonial chief Frank Fools Crow. “There is natural power, and spiritual power.” His teachings connected the interview that night to much older and deeper lessons. “Without spiritual power we tend to work for ourselves. Accomplishments may be outstanding, yet we tend to subordinate and misuse the rest of creation.”
This documentary reveals a powerful tension between the beauty of Native American traditions, and the harsh realities of modern reservation life. Our account will superimpose casual storytelling, formal interviews, landscape studies, and social awareness. Visual effects, animation, video and photographic studies will portray mystical rituals, remote healing, modern reservation life, intergenerational trauma, and daily routines.
The interviews and research includes rare insight into the beliefs and ancient rites critical to the survival of the Lakota. We learn that Sidney comes from a long lineage of Holy Men tasked by the Spirit World with passing the religion to future generations and to a modern world in dire need of native wisdom. However sacred ceremonies or private rituals were never invasively recorded, rather those events will be depicted creatively, on the emotional plane.
We are currently fundraising for post-production. Keep an eye on our progress here and all over social media.
Sidney Has No Horses: Oglala Lakota Medicine Man 