With the dramatic increase in global warming and a thinning ozone layer, the United Nations has realized that native peoples may possess some critical keys to the very survival of our species and fragile ecosystems of the planet. Host Phil Cousineau and the Global Spirit crew attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City. The program documents the proceedings and interviews a range of renowned indigenous leaders and tribal representatives such as Chief Oren Lyons, Marcos Terena, Jake Swamp, Viktor Kaisiepo and Gloria Ushigua, who are joined by more than 2,000 others at a unique gathering of indigenous peoples from around the world. The program also tells a parallel story of the non-violent resistance at Standing Rock Reservation, at what was determined to be the largest gathering of native tribes in more than 100 years, with exclusive original footage of the protests in early December 2016, , along with interviews and on-location speeches from Lakota Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairman Dave Archambault, tribal councilwoman Phyllis Young, along with other native and non-native veterans and other water protectors.