SPIRIT RIDERS
Spirit Riders is an international award winning documentary film about the birth of an American Indian peace movement, begun in 1990 by the Lakota Nation and its growth over the subsequent years.
From the stunning images of wilderness landscapes to the dramatic footage of peace and unity horseback rides, this film is a visual delight. With narration by Peter Coyote, interviews with ride-participant Viggo Mortensen (Lord Of The Rings & Hidalgo) and an eclectic soundtrack featuring American Indian Grammy winner Bill Miller, Robert Mirabal, Keith Secola, Rick Allen, Lauren Monroe. Spirit Riders not only entertains, but leads the audience on a profound journey inside a culture and a movement offering ancient traditional visions of peace to a troubled modern world.
Many respected members of the Lakota community, including descendents of Sitting Bull and Black Elk are featured in the film, both as participants in the rides and as social/cultural commentators. Charlotte Black Elk, Alex Whiteplume, Birgil Killstraight, Ron His Horse Is Thunder, Russell Means and Mel Lonehill all make appearances in the film.
Ron His Horse is Thunder escorting Lakota Youth into Wounded Knee. December 28th 2000
Ron is a descendent of Sitting Bull and president of Sitting Bull Tribal College
The film introduces us to the Lakota Indian tradition of ceremonial horseback rides and how in the last fifteen years these rides have become a source of inspiration for the Lakota people and a medium for a worldwide message of peace. We explore the annual Peace And Unity rides which each year are conducted to a different sacred site on the summer solstice. On that day, June 21st, a ceremony is held for peace among all people of the world and harmony with the environment. The film shows how this vision is coming to pass as the movement, which started as a purely local event, has since led to annual ceremonies not only in Central America but as far away as Ireland, Australia and South Africa.
Spirit Riders is nearing its final edit, and we plan to announce its release in September of 2008.
| You can donate to the Spirit Riders Foundation, which is a 501c3 nonprofit: |
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If you'd like to follow the progress of Spirit Riders, the movie and the movement
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Spirit Riders explores how the roots of the World Peace movement lie in the suffering and recovery of the Lakota. Through rides and ceremonies, Lakota people have found ways to let go of the grief and despair which persisted for over a hundred years following the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee and envision a new and hopeful future. This is the invaluable journey which the Lakota people have to offer not only their own people but all the peoples of the world. |
Other Films in the Trilogy
Peta Yuha Mani - He Who Keeps The Fire
The Viggo Mortensen Interview
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This film is an in depth interview conducted by documentary film maker James Kleinert. The film explores Mr. Mortenson's heart felt thoughts and reflections of his experience in Lakota country during the filming of Hidalgo and his participation in the 2003 Big Foot Peace Ride to Wounded Knee. Mr. Mortenson opens himself up, revealing his view of the media, government policy and just being with the Lakota people. |
The Ride To Little Big Horn
Join the Lakota Future Generation Riders as they follow the path Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and other great warriors took on their way to the Greasy Grass. On June 25th, 128 years to the date, the riders charge the Little Big Horn where General Custer made a fatal last stand. Lakota elders like Mel Lonehill share their ancient knowledge of this historic event and re-enact the actual event from a Lakota perspective.
All profits from the film Spirit Riders will go towards Lakota Youth Educational Programs.
Lakota 7th Generation Youth Riders make there way through a blinding blizzard
following the route Chief Big Foot Made 113 years earlier in similar weather conditions
The Spirit Riders Trilogy is produced and directed by James Kleinert.
You can contact James by email.
For more information on James' work and for stock footage,
please visit movingcloud.com or email James.
© 2009 Moving Cloud Productions and Spirit Riders Foundation
Inc.
* Spirit Riders Foundation Inc.
has applied for 501(c)(3) non-profit status
pending approval from the IRS