Ceremony to Commodity: The Battle Over Peyote
a feature length documentary by Morningstar Angeline
An investigation into the growing Western psychedelic movements in the United States and globally, for the commodification and decriminalization of Peyote and the strong opposition from Indigenous peoples and organizations.
Ceremony to Commodity: The Battle Over Peyote is a documentary that explores the growing cultural and ethical divide over the future of peyote, a sacred medicine for many Indigenous communities. As the psychedelic renaissance gains mainstream momentum, so too does the push to decriminalize and commercialize traditional plant medicines. Through an immersive, emotionally resonant lens, the film follows Indigenous leaders Hershel Clark and Carl Slater as they navigate panels, community meetings, and advocacy efforts to protect peyote from becoming the next exploited commodity. In parallel, the film follows non-Indigenous psychedelic advocates organizing events and pushing legislation, highlighting a collision of worldviews around access, healing, and sovereignty.
Rather than relying on academic exposition or dense commentary, the film embraces a dynamic, visually stylized pace that mirrors the speed and urgency of the movement itself. It does not aim to resolve this conflict, but to hold space for it—to lay bare the spiritual, political, and ecological stakes through the lived experiences of those on both sides. Without ever filming sacred ceremonies or active use, Ceremony to Commodity centers Indigenous voices and protocol while providing critical context about sovereignty, climate threats, and intellectual property. In doing so, the film fosters dialogue, challenges assumptions, and demands a more ethical and inclusive path forward.
THE FILMMAKERS
DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER
Morningstar Angeline is a Navajo, Chippewa, Blackfeet, Shoshone, and Latinx actor and filmmaker. She was born in Santa Fe, NM, and raised in Gallup, NM and the Los Angeles, CA area by her mother Rita Rose Wilson, father Ethan Shawn Chippewa, and stepfather, Daniel H. Freeland.
Morningstar is a 2022 NBCU Launch New Mexico Directors Initiative and 2022 SFFILM Rainin Grant recipient. Their fellowships include the 2018 Sundance Indigenous Lab, 2022 Fourth World Indigenous Lab, and the 2020 Native American Feature Writers Lab. Morningstar has completed three short films, Seeds, Can't Have It Both Ways, and Yá’át’ééh Abiní, and is currently in pre-production for her narrative feature debut, Caroline.
In addition, she has worked in editing, AD, camera, casting, and location departments and has received awards from the American Indian Film Festival, Institute of American Indian Arts and was honored by the New Mexico Film and TV Hall of Fame.
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PRODUCER
Samantha Hanlin (Seneca-Cayuga Nation) is a Portland-based producer weaving agency craft with Indigenous documentary storytelling. As a Senior Producer at Instrument, she’s led major campaigns for brands like Facebook, Microsoft, and Google. Beyond the agency world, Samantha runs her own practice, Prance, focused on supporting Native nonprofits and films, mentoring other Native creatives to find pathways into advertising and creative industries that benefit from more authentic representation.
Her collaborative work has supported organizations like NDN Collective, Portugal. The Man Foundation, Illuminative, Lakota Nation vs. United States, and Anpo. She’s spent the past four years producing Atakawea, a documentary sharing the stories of Missing, Murdered, and Exploited Indigenous Relatives, and recently served as Executive Producer for Liminality, which earned an Essence award for Best Short Film.
PRODUCER
Alexandra Renzo is a theater and filmmaker. Most often known as ‘Renzo’. First performing professionally at the age of 15, Renzo has willfully and stubbornly been immersed in the world of story for all of her life. Half Italian, half Ukrainian hailing from the midwest, now part city, part desert dweller. Feature film producing credits include: Meow Wolf: Origin Story (SXSW), Selah and the Spades(Sundance), and Soulmate(s). As an actress, recently wrapped two feature films now in post, and can be seen in the feature Queen of Knives opposite Mel Harris (Amazon, AppleTV), and a short film by Alec Brown, LIZ (Hollyshorts 2023), among other shorts.
She worked as a Creative Director at Meow Wolf for over eight years, championing and designing weird theatrical adventures. She has produced a slew of short films believing strongly in de-centralized storytelling- that have been seen at an array of festivals such as DeadCenter, LAShorts, Bend, OakCliff, SFIFF amongst others. She graduated from the New School: Eugene Lang College where she studied performance used as a form of resistance.
STORY PRODUCER
Hershel Clark is a citizen of the Navajo Nation. He received his B.S. degree in American Indian Studies from Arizona State University and his MPH degree from the University of Arizona. Mr. Clark has worked in public health for the past ten years as a public health researcher, advocate, and advisor. His professional experience has allowed him to understand the needs, challenges, and triumphs that American Indians face. He helped lead the passing of two historic health policies for the Navajo Nation, “Navajo Niłch' Éí Bee Ííná — Air is Life Act of 2021”, a comprehensive commercial tobacco smoke-free policy, and a commercial tobacco tax increase on all commercial tobacco products, including e-cigs, vaping, and nicotine products in the Navajo Nation.
He believes the use of our sacred medicines is essential to many Indigenous tribes' overall health and must be protected and preserved through both Western science and Indigenous worldviews. Mr. Clark is the Vice Chair of the Council of Peyote Way of Life Coalition, a non-profit organization that addresses the protection and preservation of peyote. Mr. Clark has been at the forefront in opposing the decriminalization of peyote from the psychedelic movement.
STORY PRODUCER
Carl Slater is serving his second term as a Navajo Nation Council Delegate, representing the communities of Round Rock, Rock Point, Tsé Ch’izhí, Tsaile Wheatfields and Lukachukai. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and is a member of the Investment Committee. Previously, he served as Vice Chair of the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee.
Before his election, Carl worked as the Director of Communications and Government Affairs in the Office of the Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, and also as the Airports Manager for the Navajo Department of Transportation. He was inspired to pursue public service after working for U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman.
Carl is focused on strengthening Navajo sovereignty and self-sufficiency, modernizing governance and financial systems, and supporting community-driven economic development. He is also active in national advocacy on tribal housing and infrastructure, financial inclusion, and sacred plant medicine preservation.
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