NATIVE CHILDREN’S SURVIVAL PROJECT PROTECT
Hidden Medicine
“Hidden Medicine is an experimental, mystical film that deals with the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the environment. The film beautifully weaves story, poetry, music and politics, creating an impending sense of our planet’s struggle to survive.”
About
HIDDEN MEDICINE follows a young girl’s dream to listen to her spirit guide, and a sacred runner sent from Onondaga Nation to the United Nations to carry the warnings of his spiritual leaders and a way of life, a way to live in peace.
Prefaced by Robert Redford, HIDDEN MEDICINE premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. A teaser for HIDDEN MEDICINE was first seen on MTV News with a call to action to support the protection of Native Peoples Sacred Sites and legislation then pending in Congress to protect the remaining four percent of America's forests.
Film Festival screenings included the American Indian Film Festival, Montréal First Peoples Festival, Taos Talking Picture Film Festival, and Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. On 23 November 2000, the film had a special screening for the Working Group on the draft declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.
HIDDEN MEDICINE aired in 2000 and 2001 on Sundance TV as part of the "Best of the Sundance Film Festival" series with a call to action to support the protection of Native Peoples Sacred Sites, the Act to Save America’s Forests, and the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act of 1999.
The film is directed with original music by Robby Romero; co-written with Chief Oren Lyons (FaithKeeper of the Onondaga Nation); executive produced by Horst Rechelbacher (Founder of the Aveda Corporation); and produced by Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or, and British Academy Film Award winner, Roland Joffé, known for helming such Academy Award-winning films as, THE KILLING FIELDS and THE MISSION.
“Romero’s singing is clear and strong… the use of Native American instruments adds just the right touches, especially in tracks like “Lakota Winyan” - a very very good song.”
“Good Works – SAVING THE FORESTS Portions of the profits from the sale of an album soundtrack to the film “Hidden Medicine,” scored by Robby Romero and performed by Red Thunder, will be donated to the Native Children’s Survival Awareness Campaign for the protection of America’s forests. “Hidden Medicine” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is being aired on the Sundance Channel as part of the “Best of the Sundance Film Festival” series.”