Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is honored to feature two screenings of the film “Revitalizing Cultural Knowledge and Honoring Sacred Waters: The Documented Oral History of Life on the Nooksack River” with Tli’nuk’dzwidzi/Althea Wilson, Lummi tribal member and documentary filmmaker. The events are 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Deming Library and 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Pioneer Pavilion in Ferndale. Space is limited; preregistration at wcls.org/events is required.
Following the opening ceremony, attendees will share a potluck meal, watch the documentary, and hear from filmmaker Althea Wilson as well as guests from Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe. Lummi members will talk about the film and their experience in those times they lived on the village site at the mouth of the Nooksack River. Please join this special opportunity for learning and connecting. DVD copies of the film have been catalogued and added to the WCLS collection. Library patrons may search the collection and borrow the film at wcls.org or by visiting a local library.
About the Film:
For the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) People, the ebb and flow of the Nooksack River shapes daily life. To explore the meaning of this relationship, Tli’nuk’dzwidzi/Althea Wilson interviewed Lummi community members about their lives along the river. The memories shared in the film are more than stories; they are the ethnology of a deep and sustained connection between the Lummi People and the land and water. This connection with the river — and the larger environment — sustains the community and shapes their collective identity.
This photo of James H. Wilson, Roberta Wilson and their daughter Deborah is featured on the cover of the DVD “Revitalizing Cultural Knowledge and Honoring Sacred Waters: The Documented Oral History of Life on the Nooksack River" by filmmaker Tli’nuk’dzwidzi/Althea Wilson. The DVD is available to borrow from local libraries.
About the Filmmaker:
Tli’nuk’dzwidzi/Althea Wilson is a Lummi tribal member who earned her bachelor’s degree in Native Environmental Science at Northwest Indian College. This documentary film is her culminating work and was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (#1461441). It is the first of several films by Althea about Lummi’s connection to the natural world. She earned first place in the undergraduate division at the 2018 Salish Sea Ecosystems Conference for this research project.
Filmmaker Tli’nuk’dzwidzi/Althea Wilson. Photo courtesy of Althea Wilson.
Event Details:
Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these in-person events. Register at wcls.org/events. Search by date or event name.
Saturday, Sept. 10, 5-8 p.m., Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Highway, Deming. Participants are asked to bring a dish to share at the potluck meal.
Saturday, Sept. 24, 5-8 p.m., Pioneer Pavilion, 2007 Cherry Street, Ferndale. Participants are asked to bring a dish to share at the potluck meal.
This event is presented by Whatcom County Library System and sponsored by Friends of the Deming Library, Friends of the Ferndale Library, Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe and the Nooksack Market Center.
About Whatcom County Library System:
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) connects people with information, ideas and community. WCLS circulates more than 2 million items annually through 10 branches, the bookmobile and a Library Express location on Northwest Drive. Residents have access to WCLS’s rich collection, including books in print and digital formats, music and movies and online digital services. Library system staff plan and host inspiring events for every age. Experience “The Power of Sharing” by visiting in person or online at WCLS.org.
