this fall, i visited jody on her Han Gwich’in homelands for the second time. she had just moved home to Eagle Village after many years away. we baked, we walked, we ran dogs, we talked till late at night, and we laughed our asses off. we made fry bread, helped cook for potlatch, went looking for moose by boat, moved the dog yard, and jody guided me through making a pair of mukluks for the winter.
on a cold and beautiful afternoon, we canoed down the Yukon river to jody’s family moose camp. we’ve been many special places together, but when we pulled up on the shore jody immediately told me “this is my favorite place in the whole entire world,” & i knew i had to make her portrait there.
there are so many things i could say about my friend but i’ll leave it at this: she is a protector, a provider. she has more strength and integrity that most will ever know. i love you jo! mahsi’choo for the beautiful time💛
Last fall I started work on a photo essay profiling @thesmokehousecollective ’s efforts to create a better future amidst the climate crisis for @highcountrynews . It’s now live online and in print, with intro text by Joaqlin Estus; photos and captions by me. Quyana to @go_barefoot , @frompeaksnpinetrees , and their communities for the trust granted in sharing their story, and to photo editor @bearguerra for his guidance and support throughout the project.
“In response to the climate crisis, the collective aims to turn this economic system on its head by creating a gathering place and network for Alaska Natives to harvest, preserve — and give away — salmon and other traditional foods. Miller and Chase-Hodgdon have a radical vision: To reinvigorate ancient Indigenous trade practices as a means to redistribute wealth, return land and water in Alaska to Indigenous stewardship, and show that a healthy economy and clean environment can coexist.”
Read more about the collective and view the full photo essay at the link in my bio. And follow along with the important work at @thesmokehousecollective 🐟
🏔️MOUNTAINFILM🏔️ - We are so excited
to be heading to this iconic festival in a few short weeks!
This is the second academy-award qualifying festival for Shaped by Land. More info to come on our screening, but let us know if we’ll see you there!
it’s been a weird winter here in southcentral alaska, but magic moments always find a way. i’m making an effort to grab a stronger hold of them and to let go of the things that don’t serve. here’s hoping for a bit more magic in the years to come.
i know I’ve been sharing a lot about @shapedbyland , but i wanted to take a proper moment to reflect on our world premiere at the 50th annual @banffmountainfestival . obviously, the festival is iconic—a dream for any outdoor filmmaker—but for me it also felt like coming home in an unexpected way.
i was fortunate enough to take part in the @banffcentre ’s adventure filmmaker’s workshop last year, and being back on campus and the side of sacred buffalo guardian mountain—screening the very film i’d been pitching one year prior in the workshop—felt surreal.
it’s extremely true that filmmakers suffer for their art. i won’t get into the roller coaster of bringing this film to life, but i will once again thank the crew that stood with it from the beginning and made real sacrifices, and those who jumped in during the final stretch with enthusiasm and belief. the biggest thanks of all goes to @aadarmi who shared his story with patience, trust, collaboration, and enthusiasm ever since this idea surfaced almost three years ago.
this is an indie film with a small budget and we are working hard to get the film out in the world. please follow along with @shapedbyland to see where our film heads next and how to further engage with the story we set out to share!
a few frames from Vashraii K’oo in September in support of @gwichinsteeringcommittee .
Elders from Vashraįį K’oo and Vįįhtąįį called an emergency Gwich’in gathering this year due to urgent threats to the Gwich’in way of life under the Trump administration. I was grateful to be invited to witness and document the gathering alongside @kerioberly . The gathering emphasized grounding in culture as an imperative strategy for land protections.
the first Gwich’in Gathering was held in 1988, and the Gwich’in Nation has been united in protecting the Arctic Refuge ever since. The banner on slide 3 is an original sign from the 1988 Gathering, created by Sarah James.
if you don’t already, please follow and support @gwichinsteeringcommittee to learn more about the Arctic Refuge, and to help protect the vadzaih (caribou) and Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit (the Sacred Place Where Life Begins).
The new so-called “Big, Beautiful Law” puts lives at risk across the U.S.—revoking access to necessities like medicaid, SNAP, and renewable energy credits. It’s especially terrible for rural Alaskan communities, but Senator Murkowski still cast the deciding vote to pass the bill into law. I encourage you to continue to make noise about her decision by contacting her offices. Contact info for email or phone can be found at murkowski.senate.gov/contact
I’m grateful and humbled to share that my photo essay profiling @thesmokehousecollective for @highcountrynews was selected for an award from the Indigenous Journalists Association (Best Photo of Indigenous Communities - 2nd Place - non-Indigenous journalist division).
This was a total surprise and of course, a huge honor. Dogidinh/chin’an to Deenaalee, Ruth, and the Smokehouse Collective for the trust in bringing this story to life, to High Country News for the support, and to visuals editor @bearguerra for the guidance and support throughout shooting and the edit. And thank you so much for the recognition @indigenousjournalists 💛
