Join us for a special screening featuring two powerful films centered on Indigenous-led conservation, created with Indigenous representation behind and in front of the lens. A panel after the films featuring moderator Dr. Shane Doyle (Apsáalooke Nation / Crow Tribe), film director Jared Wahkinney (Comanche Nation), and a representative from the Nez Perce Tribe (details TBD) will allow audience members to dive deeper into topics – like the complex relationship between the National Park System and Tribes, and the campaign to remove the lower Snake River dams to recover anadromous fish – and learn how they can support these efforts, as well as hear perspectives from Indigenous filmmakers.
How the Land Remembers Us: Amidst Yellowstone National Park's 150th anniversary, an awe-inspiring event unfolds: "Yellowstone Revealed." Indigenous artists, deeply connected to their ancestral land, share projects steeped in traditional ecological knowledge, the act of rematriation, and ceremony. What surfaces is a profound revelation: how they exist in relation to this living, breathing landscape is interwoven with the memories of their ancestors and the enduring legacy they are crafting for generations to come. Here, the land itself cradles their memories, recognizing them as integral threads in its rich tapestry.
Covenant of the Salmon People is a 60-minute documentary portrait of the Nez Perce Tribe as they continue to carry out their ancient promise to protect Chinook salmon, cornerstone species and first food their people have subsisted on for tens of thousands of years. As a dammed river system and climate impacts threaten the extinction of Chinook salmon, a cornerstone of their culture and ancestral diet, they continue to do their part to uphold this relationship–but will it be enough to save wild salmon from extinction?
The event is free with a $10 suggested donation to help offset costs. Please register using the link below.
About the panelists:
Dr. Shane Doyle is a Montana-based scholar, teacher, and community advocate whose work focuses on the history and heritage of Native American tribes of the Northern Great Plains. Shane is an enrolled member of the Apsáalooke Nation (also known as the Crow Tribe), and he holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University. Shane grew up in Crow Agency and he has built his career around making Native American history a cultural mainstay in everything from Montana’s educational system to governmental land management decisions. Whether designing educational curriculums, making films, or singing Northern Plains tribal music, Shane is always focused on serving his community.
Jared Wahkinney, a proud member of the Comanche Nation, is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous communities and ways of knowing. At a young age, Jared felt a deep connection to the natural world and his Indigenous roots. His passion for understanding positionality and his Comanche lens led him to document and tell stories with Indigenous people. In his professional career, Jared has worked for the National Park Service for three years and is currently the Indigenous Communities Project Manager for the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. Working for the National Park Service as an Indigenous employee is balanced thoughtfully within the two worlds he lives in. Within the NPS, he is also a Co-Chair for the Council of Indigenous Relevancy, Community, Leadership, and Excellence. Graduating in 2019 with his M.A. in Native American Studies, focusing on Indigenous Media and Indigenous Knowledge System, Jared had the opportunity to research within his own community to further understand Comanche Food Ways. Academically, Jared is currently a Visiting Indigenous Scholar and researcher with Salish Kootenai College in Polson, MT. Beyond his professional and academic accomplishments, Jared is a husband and loving father of two. His dedication to family mirrors his commitment to preserving ancestral lands and cultural knowledge, making him a role model both at home and in his professional life. Jared’s future goals in filmmaking are to continue giving a platform for Indigenous knowledge within his own community and others across the nation.
Nakia Williamson |
Ipeliikthil’aamkaw’aat (One Who Gathers the Clouds)
Graduated from Lewis Clark State College, B.S. Social Science. Gained much of knowledge and education concerning the traditional ‘Way of life’ of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) from Nimiipuu Culture Bearers over a lifetime. Worked in the area of Cultural Resource Management for 27 years, currently serves as Program Manager for the Nez Perce Tribe Cultural Resource Program. Conducts and coordinates technical consultation with various federal/state agencies, such as: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, 13 National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management, to name a few.