Lakota hemp documentary to premiere on PBS

Tuesday, July 3, 2007  

"Standing Silent Nation," a documentary about the struggles of Lakota hemp farmer Alex White Plume premieres tonight on PBS.

Filmmaker Suree Towfighnia planned to include White Plume in a larger documentary about industrial hemp. But after she visited the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota with Courtney Hermann, they decided to focus entirely on the legal, cultural and sovereignty issues facing the Lakota hemp farm.

White Plume farm was repeatedly raided and destroyed by DEA agents. The U.S. took him to court to prevent him from growing more crops even though the Oglala Sioux Tribe legalized industrial hemp and the plant can't be used in the same way as its marijuana relative.

The film is part of the PBS "POV" series. Check local listings for air dates and times [POV].

Get the Story:
The Battle Over Hemp on an Indian Reservation (The New York Times 7/3)
A question of freedom: Documentary airing on PBS addresses one man's fight for sovereignty (The Tulsa World 7/3)
Pine Ridge farmer struggles to grow hemp (AP 7/3)

Court Decision:
US v. White Plume (May 17, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Oglala Sioux Tribe - http://www.lakotamall.com/oglalasiouxtribe
Pine Ridge Hemp Project - http://www.plenty.org/pineridgehouse.htm

Related Stories:
Column: War on drugs should not include hemp (06/19)
Appeals court rules against Lakota hemp operation (5/18)
Appeals court hears Oglala Lakota hemp case (12/13)
Oglala Lakota man takes hemp case to appeals court (12/6)
Oglala vice president to speak at hemp gathering (5/3)
Hemp crop defended under Sioux treaty (9/2)
U.S. moves to stop Oglala Lakota hemp farm (8/15)
Editorial: Hemp may not help (12/12)
S.D. farmers support hemp (12/4)
Neb. hemp bill stalled (5/24)
Supreme Court says no to pot distribution (5/15)
Neb. hemp bill gains support (2/2)
US criticized for hemp raid (9/6)