Private Project

White Buffalo: An American Prophecy

White Buffalo: An American Prophecy is an intimate journey by four Jewish brothers into the life, customs and wisdom of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. The life of the project spanned 26 years until its completion.

  • Ethan Marten
    Director
  • Richard Marten
    Writer
  • Ethan Marten
    Producer
    Eyes of the Roshi; Atlantis Down
  • Richard Marten
    Producer
    Eyes of the Roshi
  • Lakota Oneheart
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Grandmother Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Grandmother Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Loretta Afraid of Bear Cook
    Key Cast
    "Self"
    Wiping the Tears of Seven Generations
  • Tom Cook
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Milo Yellow Hair
    Key Cast
    "Self"
    Skins, Istinma, Gonzo Utopia
  • Clifford Mahooty
    Key Cast
    "Self"
    The Cosmic Secret
  • Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
    Key Cast
    "Self"
    With One Voice, The Jew in the Lotus
  • Jonathan Marten
    Key Cast
    "Self"
    Eddie, Eyes of the Roshi
  • Seth Marten
    Key Cast
    "Self"
    Alien Nation, Eyes of the Roshi
  • Lightning Medicine Cloud
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Gary Fourstar
    Key Cast
    "Self"
    Apocalyptic Survival
  • Hawk
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Healingwolf
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Tom Hendrix
    Key Cast
    "Self"
    Muscle Shoals
  • Arby Little Soldier
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Miguel A. Sague
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • James Uqualla
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 40 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 15, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.78 : 1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Ethan Marten

The documentary, White Buffalo: An American Prophecy began in 1994 after Ethan and his brother Richard read about the birth of a white buffalo in Janesville, Wisconsin. Brothers Jonathan and Seth joined the production, and after decades shooting, interviewing, and traveling the Four Directions completed the film.

Suspense-thriller, Lost April, is currently in development by Marten's production company, Light Age Films. Eyes of the Roshi (2018) starring Eric Roberts (Runaway Train, Star 80, Pope of Greenwich Village) is in distribution.

Marten Produced and Executive Produced the sci-fi thriller Atlantis Down (2010) starring Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy, Walking Dead, Days of Thunder) and "Atlantis Rising: The Making of Atlantis Down".

While Producer/Co-Founder of Star Circle Pictures Marten made "Samaritan," "Player's Joy," and "Revolver" with his brother Richard and Kimball Carr. Samaritan was credited by Panasonic as being the first motion picture completed with the AG HVX-200 using all digital technology. Star Circle edited on set and wrapped with a rough cut of the movie.

Marten was Vice President of Marketing for Atlantic Film Studios - Virginia's first full-service motion picture studio. As Vice President of Atlantic Entertainment Inc., Marten was distributor of such films as "What Ever Happened To..?" starring Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave, "In The Deep Woods", starring Anthony Perkins, and "Our Sons", starring Hugh Grant, Julie Andrews and Ann-Margret. Artistic Director/Co-Founder Norfolk's award winning 2nd Story Theatre. Publisher/Co-Founder OnStage Magazine, Virginia-based arts and entertainment 1986-1993. As an Actor Marten has worked with Harry Dean Stanton, Academy Award winners Jason Robards, Piper Laurie, Jose Ferrer, Frank Langella, and Whoopi Goldberg. He has also been featured as John Todd, Jr. in the PBS episode of Dolley Madison on The American Experience; John Taylor in First Landing for ABC Family; Irving Berlin in George Lucas's Young Indiana Jones Chronicles for ABC Television; and in the Hollywood Pictures film Eddie. His Stage credits span more than thirty years and have seen him in Festival Productions of Shakespeare's Tempest, Equity Productions of Hamlet, and New York's Emelin Theatre Productions of A Midsummer Nights Dream as Oberon and Bottom. Marten first started working behind the camera in 1988 with Craig and Mark Fincannon on Buzz Kulick's "Too Young the Hero." He has since worked in front of or behind the camera with Lucas Films, Hollywood Pictures, Discovery Channel, Family Channel, New Dominion Pictures, and NASA. Marten received Secret Service clearance, and was one of the youngest print journalists covering the Presidential Campaign of 1980 in Sacramento. He was born and raised in New York, and now resides in Virginia.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Indigenous have a message for humanity. We are all one family. We are all related. It is time to care for all our relations on this planet. It is time to respect all life on this Earth.

A funny thing happened on the way to making White Buffalo: An American Prophecy. Our Indigenous friends taught us there really is such a thing as "Indigenous Time". It may not be the time you expected, but it always ends up being right on time.

In 1994 my brother Richard read an article about the birth of a white buffalo on a farm in Janesville, Wisconsin. He shared how this was a sacred event to many of the Indigenous of the plains. We read how First Nations people were traveling from around the country to pray WITH the white buffalo called "Miracle". We decided to first raise enough funds, and after that, begin documenting the prophecy that told of the White Buffalo Calf Woman Spirit and her relation to the birth of a white buffalo. The Elders had other ideas. "Start filming now. The money will come." My brothers Richard, Jonathan & Seth and myself, began what became a 27-year quest for wisdom. Along the way, many Wisdom Keepers became Wisdom Sharers. Their messages to humanity were deliberate, sometimes funny, sometimes stern, but mostly hopeful. We sought to give them an unfiltered stage to share their thoughts, wisdom and stories. Many are no longer with us. We are humbled their stories were preserved here.

It is our hope White Buffalo serves to bridge some understanding, and bring people closer together. My thought has always been that if my family could all sit down together, sharing with each other - not necessarily agreeing with each other, but just listening to each other respectfully - then maybe there's hope for the greater family of mankind. We hope this film inspires you to take your own journey, and document your own family's stories for future generations. If we are able to educate a little while entertaining, and remind you to respect one another, we give all the credit to those who were generous enough to share for all our benefits.

After 30 years my brothers and I are proud to present White Buffalo: An American Prophecy, right on time, Indigenous time.