Sacred Land Film Project

What Sacred Land Film Project does

Sacred Land Film Project (SLFP) is a Berkeley, California-based nonprofit founded in 1984 that produces documentary films, educational resources, and publications documenting indigenous peoples' resistance to the destruction of sacred sites by corporate mining, drilling, and development interests. The organization operates as a project of Earth Island Institute, a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor that processes all tax-deductible donations on SLFP's behalf. Its core products include the award-winning documentary 'In the Light of Reverence,' the four-episode series 'Standing on Sacred Ground' (Pilgrims and Tourists; Profit and Loss; Fire and Ice; Islands of Sanctuary), the 1981 short 'The Cracking of Glen Canyon Dam with Edward Abbey and Earth First!,' and the 'Sacred Land Speaks' podcast. The organization also maintains an interactive map of 125 sacred site reports, a 48-page Teacher's Guide, a 92-page Sacred Land Reader, and policy publications including the IUCN/UNESCO 'Best Practices Vol. 16: Sacred Natural Sites — Guidelines for Protected Area Managers' (2008) and the 80-page 'Is Nothing Sacred?' corporate responsibility report.

SLFP's technology stack consists of film and audio production, educational-resource development (PDF guides, reports), an interactive website map, and standard social-media distribution — there is no proprietary software platform, API, or AI/ML component disclosed. Distribution runs through educational film distributor Bullfrog Films, direct DVD and report sales via Acceptiva and PayPal, free downloadable PDF guides, and standard content channels including Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, and Instagram. Revenue is generated exclusively through donations and modest one-time sales of DVDs and reports, with no subscription, licensing, or institutional revenue streams disclosed.

The organization serves three primary constituencies: educators and students (using films and Teacher's Guides in social studies, environmental education, and language arts curricula); environmental and indigenous-rights activists (using film screenings, toolkits, and the 125 sacred-site reports for advocacy and case-study work); and the general public, including ethical travelers seeking guidance on visiting sacred places respectfully. Documented policy outcomes include contributions to shutting down Peabody Energy's Black Mesa coal slurry pipeline, protecting Zuni Salt Lake from the Salt River Project's proposed mine, and the landmark agreement preserving Weatherman Draw from Anschutz oil drilling. With 1-10 employees and no disclosed investors, grants, or audited financials, SLFP operates as a small, mission-driven project within the broader Earth Island Institute umbrella.

Name

Sacred Land Film Project

Legal name

Sacred Land Film Project

Website

https://sacredland.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sacred Land Film Project is a Berkeley-based nonprofit founded in 1984 producing documentaries and educational resources on indigenous peoples' resistance to the destruction of sacred sites, serving educators, indigenous-rights activists, and ethical travelers through films, an interactive sacred-sites map, and policy publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary Film and Educational Media

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (712120), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Land Use, Indigenous & Community Engagement Policy (EUAMANAL)

Keywords

• Documentary film production
• Indigenous rights advocacy
• Sacred site protection
• Environmental education media
• Cultural preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream from tax-deductible donations via fiscal sponsor Earth Island Institute. Donors receive gifts at various tiers including DVDs, books, and experiences with filmmakers.
2. DVD and Educational Materials Sales: Sells DVDs of films including Standing on Sacred Ground episodes and In the Light of Reverence. Also sells hard copies of reports like the 80-page Is Nothing Sacred? corporate responsibility report for $30.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sacred Land Film Project produces documentary films, educational resources, and publications that document indigenous peoples' resistance to the destruction of sacred sites and cultures. Its core portfolio includes the award-winning documentary "In the Light of Reverence," the four-episode "Standing on Sacred Ground" series, the historical short film "The Cracking of Glen Canyon Dam with Edward Abbey and Earth First!", the Sacred Land Speaks podcast, and accompanying educational materials such as a Teacher's Guide and Sacred Land Reader. The organization also publishes policy reports and maintains an interactive map with 125 sacred site reports documenting the history, cultural significance, and current status of sacred places worldwide.

Product overview

Sacred Land Film Project is a documentary film organization producing films, educational resources, and publications focused on indigenous peoples' sacred sites and cultural preservation. The core portfolio includes documentary films such as 'In the Light of Reverence' and the four-episode 'Standing on Sacred Ground' series, along with the historical film 'The Cracking of Glen Canyon Dam with Edward Abbey and Earth First!' The organization distributes these through the Sacred Land Speaks podcast and maintains an interactive map with 125 sacred site reports. Educational offerings include The Sacred Land Reader and Teacher's Guide, while policy work is supported by reports like the Native American Sacred Lands Forum and the corporate responsibility report 'Is Nothing Sacred?' The project also publishes IUCN/UNESCO guidelines for sacred natural site management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Standing on Sacred Ground: Film series featuring indigenous peoples' resistance to destruction of sacred sites
• In the Light of Reverence
• Sacred Land Speaks

Products and services

• In the Light of Reverence Award-winning documentary film on Native American sacred places that contributed to shutting down Peabody Energy's coal slurry pipeline and protecting Zuni Salt Lake. Aimed at educators, students, activists, and general audiences interested in indigenous sacred site protection.
• Standing on Sacred Ground A four-episode documentary series with episodes titled Pilgrims and Tourists, Profit and Loss, Fire and Ice, and Islands of Sanctuary that explores indigenous peoples' resistance to the destruction of sacred sites and cultures worldwide. Aimed at educators, activists, and documentary audiences.
• The Cracking of Glen Canyon Dam with Edward Abbey and Earth First! Short poetic documentary film capturing the birth of the radical environmental movement and Earth First's legendary direct action at Glen Canyon Dam in March 1981, containing one of the only interviews with Edward Abbey. Aimed at documentary audiences and environmental movement historians.
• Sacred Land Speaks Podcast Podcast series featuring stories of Indigenous sacred site guardians, with episodes including interviews with figures such as Edward Abbey, Vine Deloria Jr., Oren Lyons, Winona LaDuke, and Barry Lopez. Aimed at general audiences interested in indigenous culture and environmental advocacy.
• Report of the Native American Sacred Lands Forum Report from the 2001 Denver and Boulder forum providing recommendations on education, Native leadership, legal tools, legislation, and land management policies for protecting sacred sites. Aimed at policymakers, advocates, and tribal leaders.
• Is Nothing Sacred? Corporate Responsibility for the Protection of Native American Sacred Sites 80-page report with six case studies on threatened sacred sites including Black Mesa and Zuni Salt Lake, providing recommendations for corporations and stakeholders. Sold for $30 as a hard copy. Aimed at corporate stakeholders, policymakers, and advocates.
• The Sacred Land Reader 92-page companion reader to In the Light of Reverence containing six essays on sacred lands, including contributions by Vine Deloria Jr. and Peter Nabokov. Aimed at educators, students, and general readers.
• In the Light of Reverence Teacher's Guide 48-page teacher's guide with 23 activities in Social Studies, Environment, and Language Arts, downloadable for free from the website. Aimed at K-12 and post-secondary educators.
• Sacred Natural Sites: Guidelines for Protected Area Managers Best Practices Vol. 16 published by IUCN and UNESCO in 2008, providing guidelines for management of sacred natural sites in protected areas worldwide. Aimed at protected area managers, conservation professionals, and policymakers.
• Interactive Sacred Sites Map Interactive map featuring 125 sacred site reports documenting the history, cultural significance, and current status of sacred places worldwide, categorized as Protected, Threatened, or Endangered. Aimed at researchers, educators, activists, and ethical travelers.
• Sacred Site Reports In-depth reports on sacred sites around the world documenting history, cultural significance, and current status, referenced by Hopi elder Thomas Banyacya as 'the spots of the fawn.' Available through the interactive map. Aimed at researchers, educators, advocates, and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aided in shutting down Peabody Energy's destructive coal slurry pipeline from Black Mesa
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IUCN and UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Project Director Christopher McLeod co-edited and wrote guidelines for management of sacred natural sites worldwide. IUCN and UNESCO published Best Practices Vol. 16, Sacred Natural Sites: Guidelines for Protected Area Managers, launched at World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Spain in 2008.
• Native American Sacred Lands Forum (Planning Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2001Two-day forum held in Denver and Boulder, Colorado in October 2001, convened to find solutions to inadequate protection of sacred sites. SLFP Project Director Christopher McLeod was on the planning committee and the film In the Light of Reverence was screened as part of the forum.
• Bullfrog FilmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational film distributor offering In the Light of Reverence for sale. Provides one copy of the Teacher's Guide free to educational institutions with purchase of the film. Also sells additional guide copies for $5 per copy plus postage.
• Sacred Sites International FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on ethics guidelines for visiting sacred places. Sacred Sites International's 'Ethics for Visiting Sacred Sites' guidelines are featured on the Sacred Land website as recommended protocols for ethical travelers.
• National Trust for Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in landmark agreement to save Weatherman Draw from Anschutz oil drilling. The Trust held leases until expiration, working with the Department of Interior to protect the sacred landscape containing the largest collection of Native American rock art on the continent.
• Hawai'i Volcanoes National ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on ethical visitor guidelines for Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, including protocols for respecting wahi kapu (sacred places) and native Hawaiian cultural practices around Kilauea Volcano.
• Aboriginal Tourism AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to produce a nine-page guide to visiting sacred sites in Australia, promoting ethical tourism and respect for Aboriginal sacred places.
• Sierra ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization in efforts to protect Medicine Lake Highlands from Calpine geothermal development. Joined with Pit River Tribe and Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center in legal challenges.
• Black Mesa TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored water protection declarations and worked together on campaigns to shut down Peabody's coal slurry line at Black Mesa and protect Hopi/Navajo water resources.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Vision Maker Media: Public media organization supporting indigenous filmmakers and stories through funding, distribution, and broadcast partnerships. Directly comparable as a documentary/educational content peer with a focus on indigenous voices and distribution into educational and broadcast channels.
• First Peoples' Cultural Council: Canadian indigenous-led organization supporting revitalization of indigenous languages, arts, and cultural heritage through grants, programs, and digital resources. Comparable to SLFP as an indigenous heritage/cultural-preservation nonprofit with educational programming and advocacy.
• Aboriginal Tourism Australia: Indigenous-led tourism body that partnered with SLFP to produce a guide for visiting sacred sites in Australia. Comparable as a content and advocacy peer focused on indigenous sacred-place protection and ethical visitor education.
• Cultural Survival: Indigenous-led nonprofit producing media, advocacy, and educational content on indigenous peoples' rights globally. Comparable to SLFP in mission and methodology: using media and educational resources to advance indigenous self-determination and land protection.
• Sacred Sites International Foundation: Nonprofit focused on ethics, protection, and stewardship of sacred places worldwide. Direct peer to Sacred Land Film Project — they co-developed the "Ethics for Visiting Sacred Sites" guidelines hosted on sacredland.org and operate in the same indigenous sacred-site preservation space.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: U.S. nonprofit that partnered with SLFP on the Weatherman Draw agreement protecting Native American rock art from oil drilling. Comparable as a broader heritage-preservation incumbent that overlaps with SLFP's sacred-site protection mission.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global conservation authority that co-published SLFP's "Sacred Natural Sites: Guidelines for Protected Area Managers" (Best Practices Vol. 16). Comparable as a larger institutional player whose standards work overlaps with SLFP's sacred natural site policy mission.
• National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian): Major U.S. institution preserving and presenting Native American cultures through exhibitions, films, and educational resources — explicitly cross-linked from sacredland.org as an allied resource. Comparable as a larger institutional player in the same indigenous cultural preservation category.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sacredlandfilm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sacredlandfilm
• Facebookfacebook.com/SacredLand
• Instagraminstagram.com/sacredlandfilmproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacred-land-film-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sacred Land Film Project