Sarah is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and owner of Farthest North Films and Wisdom Keeper Media, which are film production businesses specializing in films that communicate across cultures, especially showcasing indigenous traditions. Sarah has traveled extensively around the world, immersing in indigenous peoples way of life and learning how they utilize local resources for food, medicine and lifestyle products.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Conservation Ecology and Master’s degree in Cross-Cultural Studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, with a focus on ethnographic film and Alaska Native Studies.
Her community-based film project approach is to form a bridge of communication between local indigenous knowledge with western science research.
https://www.farthestnorthfilms.com- 40 Years of Celebration
40 Years of Celebration — A Biennial Festival of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Cultures
In 1982, Sealaska Heritage Institute held the first Celebration, a gathering of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian of Southeast Alaska. It was held at the urging of Elders, who worried the cultures were dying after a period of severe oppression. They also wanted to celebrate that their cultures had survived.
Celebration started off with primarily Elder participants singing and dancing over a 4-day period every other year. The year 2022 marked the 40th Celebration, which now includes participation of all ages and includes associated events, such as a Juried Art Show and Competition, a Native artist market, Native food contests, a Native fashion show, a toddler regalia review, a parade through downtown Juneau, several affiliated events, and other special events.
Today, Celebration, which draws thousands of people every even year, is the largest gathering of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people in the world.
Enjoy being immersed into the behind-the-scenes interviews and uplifting events while watching how Celebration has evolved after 40 years of celebrating.