The Hierophant is nothing if not the bridge between god and man. He is a conduit. A big part of the spirit of card V is the Pope. The symbol of the first pope, Peter, is the crossed keys, as he is the one with the keys to heaven; his judgement is the conduit through which the righteous will pass. Here the symbolism and the drama has been ratched down a bit. Our shaman isn't judging anyone, but is certainly hearing something that not everyone is privy to; he knows something is coming, and if conditions are right will be able to articulate to the people around him. The phrase that comes to mind is "spiritual weathervane".
My last look at the card makes me appreciate the androgyny of this person. While my first intimation was that this person is a man, but that may not be the case. V The Shaman could just as easily be an old woman. That, for me, is one of the keys of those who work with metaphysical energy, their propensity towards androgyny, and if not androgyny at least a lack of attachment toward traditionally gendered attachments.