Nez Perce Tribe’s award-winning film on salmon conservation now streaming on PBS

The Nez Perce Tribe’s award-winning documentary, “Covenant of the Salmon People,” is now airing on Public Broadcasting Station KBTC, according to a press release from the Tribe.

The film started airing this month, which is Native American Heritage Month. 

The 60-minute documentary looks into the Nez Perce Tribe’s ancestral connection with salmon and its commitment to restore the endangered fish despite challenges posed by dams and climate change.

After premiering in Lewiston in May, the Tribe and environmental advocacy groups have hosted screenings across the Northwest to raise awareness of the role that salmon play in their culture. 

Directed and produced by Emmy Award-winner Shane Anderson of Swiftwater Films, the film recently won the “Things to Consider” award and top three “Overall Film” at the Friday Harbor Film Festival.

Nez Perce Tribe Chairman Shannon Wheeler said in the press release that the goal of the film is to bring awareness to the role that salmon play in the Tribe’s identity.

“If we had the time, we would prefer to talk to every individual personally, this film is the next best option to convey this message,” he said. “The film eloquently tells the story of our commitment to protect and advocate for salmon, who, in their generosity, have ensured our survival. Our creation story is a testament to this covenant, and we continue to honor it as our sacred obligation.”

The Nez Perce Tribe, with the support of environmental groups and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, has led efforts to breach the lower Snake River dams. Located in Washington, breaching those dams would remove a barrier of the structures so water would flow around the dams making it easier for salmon to migrate. 

“Without salmon, we, the Salmon People across the Northwest, lose an integral part of our culture and identity,” Wheeler said. “It’s time to take significant steps to preserve this vital species from the brink of extinction.”