POV Season 14 Episode 7 In the Light of Reverence

In the Light of Reverence is the seventh episode of the fourteenth season of the award-winning documentary series POV. The episode is directed by Christopher McLeod and explores the complex and often contentious relationship between Native American tribes and the federal government in the United States over the use of public lands for mining, recreation, and religious practices.

The film takes us on a journey to three different sacred sites in the western United States: the Hopi tribe's sacred mountain of Katsimuki, the Wintu tribe's ancestral fishing grounds on the McCloud River in California, and the Lakota tribe's Bear Butte in South Dakota. Through interviews with tribal leaders, activists, historians, and government officials, we learn about the spiritual significance of these sites to each tribe and the threats they face from outside interests.

At Katsimuki, we witness the struggle of the Hopi tribe to protect their sacred mountain from a proposed ski resort development. The Hopi see the mountain as the physical manifestation of their creator and fear that any desecration of the mountain could lead to spiritual and ecological disaster. They lobby the Forest Service and other government agencies to protect the mountain, but face opposition from powerful interests with economic incentives to develop the land.

In California, we hear from members of the Wintu tribe about their struggle to preserve their way of life in the face of the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the McCloud River. For the Wintu, the river is the source of their spiritual and physical sustenance, providing not only fish for food but also serving as a place of prayer and healing. The dam threatens to inundate the Wintu's sacred sites and disrupt the natural balance of the river, yet the federal government has refused to consult with the tribe or consider their spiritual beliefs in the decision-making process.

Finally, we visit Bear Butte in South Dakota, a sacred site to the Lakota that has been used for centuries for prayer, vision quests, and other spiritual practices. However, in recent years the area has become a popular destination for motorcycle rallies, music festivals, and other non-Native American activities. This has caused disruption and disrespect to the Lakota's sacred rituals and has led to tension between the tribe and local officials who are unwilling to restrict public access.

Through these three stories, In the Light of Reverence invites us to reflect on larger questions about the proper relationship between humanity and the natural world, the appropriate role of governments in preserving cultural heritage, and the need for mutual respect and understanding between different cultural groups. The film offers no easy answers but challenges us to consider the perspectives of others and the deeper spiritual dimensions of our world.