The Tibetans

This first part of "Voices For Freedom" is being premiered in June 2009. It focuses on issues facing Tibetans today. In it, Nobel Peace Prize recipient His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama speaks at length in an interview for which Producer/Director Mary Teal Coleman (Ven. Bhikshuni Tenzin Yeshe)--a Tibetan Buddhist monastic/monk--was given rare access. Tibetans who were imprisoned and tortured give eloquent, heart-rending accounts about their experiences. You will also hear briefly in this part of the show from Native American leaders such as Chief Arvol Lookinghorse (19th generation Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Woman's Pipe) and Ron His Horse Is Thunder (direct descendant of Sitting Bull) who points out that what has happened to the Tibetans is not so different from what happened to Native American nations. Several award-winning singer-songwriters perform throughout this part of "Voices For Freedom" as well.

The Native Americans, Parts One and Two

These parts of "Voices For Freedom" will be released at a later date. They include mostly Native American spiritual and cultural leaders speaking at length about some of the experiences their people have endured, but also giving hope and offering solutions as we face the future. Again, you will see Chief Arvol Lookinghorse and Ron His Horse Is Thunder, now joined by many others such as Winona LaDuke (who is the first Native American woman to run for Vice President of the United States), Woody Kipp (educator and author of the book Vietcong At Wounded Knee), Dennis Hisgun and Neily Anderson (chemical dependency counselors in Native American programs), Bob Blackbull (head of the Blackfeet Buffalo Horse Coalition working to preserve horses on the Blackfeet reservation), and many others. The problems of suicide and drug/alcohol abuse are spoken about with compassion by Native American medicine people using traditional spiritual methods to reach those suffering, as well as some chemical dependency experts using modern therapeutic modalities.0 We present these issues not simply as special problems facing Native Americans, but as challenges confronting many in our general society today. The skills, kindness and wisdom of those working to uplift and inspire others in this production are of great value to all of us, not just those in Native American communities. Many of these leaders speak about other issues important to preserving their traditional ways, such as passing their spiritual teachings to the younger generation, preserving their languages, sovereignty, Trust issues (i. e. the legal case of Eloise Cobell who filed a legal actions--and had judgments in her favor--against the U. S. government for funds believed owed to Blackfeet people under Trust agreements), bringing back and preserving the lives of our four-legged, animal friends (and all living beings); teaching the care and training of horses to reach troubled young people who might not otherwise be helped; preserving the natural resources of our Mother Earth, and the crucial importance of the people of the world managing to live in harmony at this time for our mutual survival.

In "Voices For Freedom," Winona LaDuke makes the point that there is no such thing as "clean" and "safe" nuclear energy, a belief held by many in the Native American communities (as well as the general public) today. Working to stop this apparently dangerous technology is considered possible crucial for the survival of our environment and, possibly, of sentient beings in our world.

The Musicians

Throughout all parts of Voices For Freedom, you will see performances from many award-winning singer-songwriters, such as Joanne Shenandoah, 2006 Grammy winner for Best Album of Native American Music, along with Bill Miller; Danny Flowers, a Nashville-based musician who has written songs for Eric Clapton and others; in "Voices For Freedom" Danny is backed up by Grammy winner Bill Miller and music legend Emmylou Harris performing his beautiful new song "Prayer Song;" Mary Youngblood performs her Grammy-winning song "Beneath The Raven Moon;" Bill Payne, amazing keyboardist of the band "Little Feat," performs "Rainbow Silence" from his first solo CD; Gary Morris (who made "Wind Beneath My Wings" famous), sings "Bring Him Home" from his Grammy-winning soundtrack from "Les Miserables" on Broadway. All these musical greats are joined by many other wonderful musicians. We thank all of them so much for their great contributions to "Voices For Freedom."

Because of her busy schedule, Director/Producer Mary Teal Coleman (Tenzin Yeshe)cannot respond personally to e-mails from this Web site. Our organization will do its best to reply to e-mail communications, however we may not be able to get back to you because of our small staff. Thank you.