The Peoples of Western Oregon

Wisdom of the Elders, a Native-run, Oregon non-profit, in partnership with the Northwest Film Center, will premiere two new one-hour programs in its Native Wisdom Documentary Film Series about today’s changing climate and how it is affecting Native Oregonians’ traditional foods and resources.

The documentaries feature gifted tribal elders and indigenous scientists and their observations of ecosystems on their reservation and ceded lands where they hunt, fish and gather traditional First Foods and medicines. The films show how traditional ecological knowledge is now influencing decisions by natural resource managers in Oregon on wildlife and resource management, and how Oregon Tribes are leading the way for the nation in habitat and species restoration.

Portland-based Wisdom of the Elders, founded by the late Martin High Bear (Lakota) and his wife Rose High Bear (Athabascan), has been collecting Native oral histories, stories on history, culture and music for 25 years. Known for their award-winning radio series, “Wisdom of the Elders Radio,” and The Northwest Indian Storytellers Festival, Wisdom has started to develop documentary films. The video series “Native Wisdom,” includes programs on Alaskan Athabascan and Inupiat Tribes. The new pair of films, entitled “The Peoples of Western Oregon” and “The Peoples of Eastern Oregon,” will screen once only at 2:30pm and 4pm with a short break in between.