Media Contact:
Erin Tofte-Nordvik, director of diversity, equity & inclusion, 509-682-6868
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509-682-6436 (Mon.-Thurs.)

There will be a screening of “United by Water” at The Grove Recital Hall at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30. The film is being shown by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in recognition of Native American Heritage Month. The event is free and open to the public.

Doors will open at 3:15 p.m. and a discussion with director Derrick LaMere will follow the film. LaMere is Chippewa Cree and a descendent of the Colville Tribe. He also shot and produced the film which is a production of War Pony Pictures.

The film revolves around the revival of a traditional canoe journey on the Columbia River that ended when the Grand Coulee Dam was built.

The dam reservoir flooded Native American fishing grounds and nearby waterfalls. The film includes archival footage from The Ceremony of Tears – a final gathering at the historic fishery before flooding. Then, in 2016, the Upper Columbia Treaty Tribes got together with hand-built canoes and traveled the river once again.

The film is narrated by author, poet and Spokane tribal member Sherman Alexie.