The film shows the Lakota, Wintu and the Hopi elders reflecting on the spiritual meaning of how best to use their Holy land in the midst of non-Indians. The major conflict as depicted in the film occurs due to the fact that the Native Americans tribes believes in holding land communally and placing little value on individual rights.,. On the other hand the American legal culture greatly values individual freedom and separates religion from land. Conflict occurs between the Lakota and the Mountain Climbers who greatly desire to climb the Devils tower which is regarded as the premier of world climbing challenges. The Climbers argue that the government was biased in promoting the Indian religion by denying the climbers access to the holy mountain. In another segment of the film, the Hopi believes that they have a spiritual obligation to care for their Holy plateau of Colorado; it is for this reason that they pressure the authorities to abolish the mining of coal and pumice on these grounds.
All along the film, the Lakota struggles to maintain their sacred lands at Wyoming while the climbers argues that any U.S citizen should be allowed for complete access to the tower since it lies on federal land. Since both party’s arguments are logical and valid, the case has been litigated up to the Supreme Court so as to give a verdict on this ongoing conflict.
Works Cited
In the light of reverence.Dir.Christopher McLeod,co-prod.Malinda Maynor, 2011. Film
Beversluis, Joel D. Sourcebook of the World's Religions: An Interfaith Guide to Religion and
Spirituality. Novato, Calif: New World Library, 2000. Internet resource.
