Native Filmmakers Expose Shocking Climate Crisis: Unseen Impacts Revealed in New Series

Unveiling Climate Change Through Indigenous Lenses

In the compelling short film Tides of Tradition, Unangax̂ subsistence hunter prepares a ptarmigan bird with his mother, reflecting deep-rooted cultural practices. The film starkly highlights the community’s pressing issue: the alarming decline of sea lions in the warming waters near Unalaska.

As filmmaker Kanesia McGlashan-Price points out, climate change is directly affecting access to traditional foods, crucial for Indigenous communities. This short film is part of a groundbreaking series focused on climate change, premiering online on September 13.

This series, a collaboration between GBH’s Nova and Vision Maker Media, features six short films by Native American filmmakers. It aims to give voice to Indigenous perspectives on climate change.

The films will be accessible on PBS and Nova’s websites, with weekly releases on Nova’s YouTube channel. Promotion will also occur through Nova’s newsletter and social media channels.

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Exploring Diverse Climate Narratives

One film in the series delves into the heat challenges faced by the Navajo Nation’s traditional hogan homes in the Southwest. Another explores the ancestral fisheries of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ people on California’s coast, showcasing their efforts to maintain environmental balance.

Series producer Chris Neighbors emphasizes that each film, while unique, collectively addresses the broader climate change issue from Indigenous viewpoints. The digital series builds on Nova’s three-part documentary Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine.

This documentary, premiered in July, prominently features Native American perspectives. The new short films offer an even deeper dive into Indigenous experiences and solutions.

The collaboration with Vision Maker Media has been pivotal.

• It provides Indigenous communities a platform to share their stories.
• Ensures authenticity and respect in storytelling.
• Amplifies voices often unheard in mainstream media.

A Partnership Rooted in Shared History

John Bredar, Vice President of national programming at GBH, credits the long-standing relationship with Vision Maker Media CEO Francene Blythe-Lewis for enabling this collaboration. Their shared history at National Geographic paved the way.

Bredar highlights that while Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine is a local story, it has far-reaching global implications. The partnership aimed to bring Indigenous voices from across the country to the forefront.

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With support from PBS and CPB, the co-production with Vision Maker Media and GBH/NOVA became a reality. This support was crucial in pulling together resources for the short films.

This series not only educates but also empowers Indigenous communities by showcasing their resilience and adaptation strategies amidst climate challenges.

Empowering Indigenous Filmmakers

Tides of Tradition marks the debut production for McGlashan-Price, a 27-year-old Unangax̂ arts and culture producer at KUCB in Unalaska. Her passion for storytelling shines through.

McGlashan-Price aspires to continue amplifying Native American voices and stories of climate change. She stresses the disproportionate impact of climate change on Indigenous people, despite their minimal contribution to the crisis.

Through these films, viewers will witness climate impacts narrated directly by the affected communities. The filmmakers’ deep connections with these communities ensure authentic and powerful storytelling.

This series is a testament to the strength and resilience of Indigenous people, highlighting their unique perspectives and solutions to climate change challenges.

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