Our Water Ways

'Our Water Ways' serves as a testament to the resilience and tradition of indigenous communities in California, documenting their unwavering commitment to safeguarding sacred water across the state's diverse ecosystems. This feature-length documentary, backed by influential organizations such as Patagonia, the Weingart Foundation, and the Climate Science Alliance, embarks upon a pivotal exploration of California's various habitats, delving into the stories of Tribal nations fighting to protect their water sources. From the lush forests and woodlands to the arid deserts, the urban landscapes, and the scenic coastlines, 'Our Water Ways' masterfully captures the complex and unifying thread that binds these diverse ecosystems: the importance of water to the well-being of the state. This convergence of people, lands, and the precious resource of water provides the backdrop for an in-depth examination of California's unique cultural heritage. The film begins in the majestic redwood forests, a realm primarily inhabited by the Northern California based Yurok and Karuk Tribal governments. A significant portion of their ancestral lands encompass the forests, and consequently, the preservation of the respective watersheds and waterways that sustain their communities has become a vital endeavor. Through the eyes of community leaders, elders, and young tribal members, 'Our Water Ways' recounts the historical significance of these forests and their spiritual ties to the Yurok and Karuk peoples. As one elder tribe member evocatively explains, "water is life, it is culture, it is a matter of existence." This deeply personal and spiritual connection is a recurring theme throughout the documentary as the film transitions between the disparate regions of California, where diverse Tribal nations strive to protect their sacred waterways. A foray into the Central Valley introduces viewers to the Hupa Valley elders and their intricate knowledge of the region's ancestral lands. As one valley resident candidly shares, "the Hupa are tied to the landscape, we can't just move where we want to, our ancestors are here." Following the Central Valley, the documentary shifts its focus to the area surrounding Los Angeles, where the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribe deftly navigates the intricacies of reclaiming their ancestral lands and protecting their cherished water sources. As a 95-year-old Tongva elder speaks to the challenges faced by their people, highlighting how Tribal water management strategies embody an intrinsic relationship with nature, she resolutely asserts that "we were here first" - underscoring the importance of preservation. Some particularly noteworthy examples are found in the development and execution of tribal-led water management initiatives. Tribal members have successfully managed watersheds for generations with holistic strategies by knowing the 'water flow' behavior that occurs between California's watershed ecosystems, hence these historic knowledge systems enable them to perform conservation measures, ensuring environmental resilience and community prosperity. The journey then ascends to the mountainous regions, where several Tribal nations - encompassing the Modoc and Pit River nations - face monumental battles to protect their water resources from local, state, and federal development projects. By using a mixture of close-up interviews and on-site reporting techniques, the filmmakers create a strong narrative bridge that makes viewers feel immersed in the lives of these native Californian communities. From the river flows and ocean currents, which represent a symbiotic water cycle, to the very complex struggles confronted by local residents and the immense push-back these marginalized communities must endure against relentless efforts to remove their traditional environmental base, the film interweaves a plethora of vivid narrative threads. Upon the film's conclusion, 'Our Water Ways' underscores the timeless heritage of Tribal communities as co-managers and caretakers of the vast territory and diverse ecosystems that comprise the California landscape. These nations personify unique capacities in proactively confronting ecological challenges while responsibly engaging with multiple stakeholders in a shared quest for water protection and land preservation. Through the unflinching depiction of these diverse stories and resilient leaders, 'Our Water Ways' not only highlights the essence of California's rich environmental and cultural tapestry but also confronts viewers with unwieldy ecological dilemmas, imploring contemplation on what might be lost if the intricate relationships between people, land, and water collapse under our changing climate reality.