On April 1, 2016, five members of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe establish Sacred Stone, a peaceful camp in protest of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline. The pipeline, the Sioux say, is the toxic “Black Snake” of which their ancestors warned. On September 2, 2016, the tribe files evidence in federal court documenting that a portion of the pipeline’s proposed route would cut through multiple ancient burial and prayer sites. Early the next morning, Dakota Access bulldozes the sites, which are miles from where construction is taking place. Hundreds rush to the scene. Guards attack with dogs and pepper spray. It is the anniversary of the 1863 Whitestone Massacre that took place on the same lands. The women issue a call for help, and within a week, their camp’s population exceeds 10,000. Among them is humanitarian and documentary filmmaker Shannon Kring.

Now at the center of the largest gathering of Native Americans in 225 years, the women unwittingly find themselves the leaders of an ongoing global movement. In the process, they must face the personal costs of leadership, even as their own lives and identities are transformed.

Featuring exclusive footage including shocking, never-before-seen evidence of police brutality surrendered to the filmmakers by a disgraced law enforcement officer, END OF THE LINE is both an exploration of the rise of indigenous and feminine power in the areas of social and environmental justice, and a searing and deeply personal story of four brave women: Sky Roosevelt-Morris, a human rights activist in her 20's torn between the call to action and her own need for healing; Wašté Win Young, a mother born into the American Indian Movement who, at first resisting her family heritage of activism, emerges from the trauma of Standing Rock both scarred and emboldened; veteran indigenous rights activist Phyllis Young, whose example of unbowed courage and endurance serves to rally the movement to persevere in defense of Mother Earth; and LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, who emerges as an undaunted leader, despite witnessing the bones of her ancestors unearthed in Dakota Access' wanton act of destruction.

Rich commentary is provided throughout by author and activist Pearl Daniel-Means, the widow of Lakota freedom fighter Russell Means, first National Director of the American Indian Movement. Women of All Red Nations co-founder Madonna Thunder Hawk provides expert testimony on the effects of colonization and the history of U.S. violations of Indian treaties. Vanessa “Sioux-Z” Dundon provides additional analysis of the harrowing cultural and personal PTSD associated with colonization.

END OF THE LINE also features searing testimony of the Indian boarding school and foster home atrocities, and the shocking record of forced sterilization programs. Exclusive interviews with Zintkala Mahpiya Win Blackowl (who gave birth at the Standing Rock protests) and visionary commentary from medicine woman Dr. Linda Black Elk give END OF THE LINE an authentic grounding in the essence of American Indian heritage, and the struggle for survival in the face of genocidal colonization.

Placing the courage of the women of Standing Rock in its true historic perspective, END OF THE LINE cuts to the essence of one of the great political and cultural events of the 21st century—“the hearts of the women.”

The women of Standing Rock do not call themselves protestors. They are protectors. In interview after interview, they explain that their fight is for the greater good. Standing Rock is their home, but Mother Earth is home to us all. Human rights, land rights, and environmental justice concern us all.

"It's very simple. We have to have water for life. And so we're petitioning the world community to join our campaign. Every effort we make is for all of our children and grandchildren.

We make a commitment to continue the struggle, and to make every effort for all of us."                             

We are thrilled to report that END OF THE LINE will premiere at Slamdance Film Festival 2021. This year's festival will be held virtually from February 12 - 25, allowing you to tune in from wherever you are. Get your festival pass here.

We have also just signed with a top film distributor, who is navigating on our behalf the ever-changing landscape of broadcast media and film marketing in the time of Covid-19. As television and streaming airdates become available, we will update our donors. In addition, all donors at the $50 level and above receive their own streaming copy of the film later this year.

We are incredibly grateful to the 1,700+ individuals from around the world who allowed us to follow this awe-inspiring story for more than two years. We're not stopping here. In fact, our work is just beginning.

END OF THE LINE was created as a cinematic tool to create widespead awareness of and to humanize the struggle and resilience of the American Indian woman in order to change minds, change structures, build community, and transform behaviors.  To this end, we are raising funds to create an execute a widespread impact marketing campaign consisting of film screenings, cast and filmmaker talks, a viewer guide, educational tools for schools and museums, and more.

As the women of Standing Rock continue their stand on the front line of the fossil fuel divestment movement, timely exposure for our film is crucial. Marketing independent films without the support of the studios or mainstream media is challenging and expensive. We’re up to the task. We know the importance of championing the stories that may otherwise go untold. We believe films such as this must be created with utmost integrity and respect. This means without the outside influence of studio heads, network executives, or advertisers. This is where you come in.

No contribution is too small. Every amount helps. 

Our goal is to raise as much money as we can to take our message far and wide. Every little bit counts. We're grateful for whatever you're able to contribute. Together we will make a difference.                  

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Perks are offered to donors worldwide. If you'd like, you can donate without collecting a perk, or you can gift your perk to someone else. 

Shannon Kring is an Emmy-winning producer and humanitarian whose work has been presented by dozens of governments, and by institutions including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Smithsonian Institution of the American Indian, NASA, MIT, the British Museum, and UNESCO. She is a UNWTO Liaison and serves as Honduras’ Goodwill Ambassador. Shannon works with the UN, US Department of State, USAID, UNEP, and other global bodies on issues concerning the indigenous and other marginalized members of society, and cultural preservation. In 2018, she became the first US director and only third woman to receive the backing of the Finnish Film Foundation. Shannon is a 2019 Stella Artois - Women in Film Finishing Fund Grantee for this film. www.shannonkring.com

Pearl Daniel-Means is a producer, activist, and author who speaks around the world on matters concerning indigenous issues, human rights, and environmentalism. She was born into the Ashiihi (Salt) Clan of the Navajo Nation. Her Lakota name, Iyoyanbya Izanzan Win, translates loosely to “Bright Light”. Pearl walked alongside the late American Indian  activist, author, artist, and actor Russell Means, as his wife, business manager, and collaborator. She is on the board of directors of Red Nation Film Festival and is chair of T.R.E.A.T.Y. Total Immersion Educational Endowment Fund, this film’s fiscal sponsor. www.russellmeanslegacy.com

Sophia Ehrnrooth is an acclaimed visual artist and cultural entrepreneur. She made her directorial debut in 2017 with the documentary short DREAM OF CHAMPIONSHIP. It has gone on to compete in festivals throughout Europe, and received honorable mention from movie critic Carmen Gray (THE GUARDIAN, SOUND & SIGHT) at DocPoint Helsinki  2018. Previously, Sophia directed and produced a series of short-form video interviews on traditional wisdom. Sophia’s Helsinki-based movie production company, Playart Productions, is one of END OF THE LINE’s Finnish co-production partners. www.playartproductions.com

Marc Gerke is an Emmy-nominated director of photography who previously worked for 10 years as an editor. Among his 120+ credits are the multi-Emmy-winning documentary series AMERICAN MASTERS; SUPER SOUL SUNDAY; NATURALLY, DANNY SEO; 48 HOURS; CBS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING; RACHAEL RAY; and THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW. His documentary credits include the Peabody-winning MAYA ANGELOU: AND STILL I RISE and MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL, a Sundance Institute project. Marc’s corporate clients include L’Oreal, Adidas, Nike, Microsoft, Wilson Sporting Goods, United Airlines, the NFL, the NBA, and dozens of others. His work appears on all major US networks and on streaming platforms worldwide. www.j7pictures.com

Lesley Kubistal is an acclaimed documentary film and television editor specializing in narrative-driven projects. Most notably, she for 14 years served as senior editor of THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW, and at Winfrey’s Harpo Productions and OWN. Her recent documentary film credits include the award-winning SAME GOD, about religious freedom in America; Kartemquin Films’ ALL THE QUEEN’S HORSES, exposing municipal fraud; and KEEP TALKING, the story of four Alaskan Native women working to revitalize their dying language. Among her many factual television credits is the Primetime Emmy-Nominated miniseries NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: INSIDE 9/11. She is currently editor of the Apple TV+ series THE OPRAH CONVERSATION. www.lesleykubistal.com

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