A new documentary about the Penobscot Nation is available to watch for free online, and Sunlight Media Collective encourages public screenings.

This River is Our Relative is a new Sunlight Media Collective documentary about the Penobscot Nation’s intrinsic kinship connection to and tireless environmental advocacy for the Penobscot River. The story is told through the voices of 24 Penobscot people, who share their experience of historical, physical, and spiritual connection to place; of cultural identity and survival. Their narratives are interwoven with a traditional Wabanaki story about how The People and Glouskap defeated a greedy monster frog, Aklebemu, who was hoarding all the water.

This story parallels both historical and present day environmental concerns, and is also the origin story of the Penobscot family Clans.

“You can point to any aspect of our culture from a riverine perspective,” said Penobscot Cultural and Historic Preservation Dept. Director James E. Francis, Sr., in a Sunlight Media news release.

This documentary shows the Penobscot Nation's dedication to environmental justice and their efforts to minimize pollution, demonstrates the importance of respecting inherent Tribal sovereignty, and celebrates Penobscot peoples’ ongoing river-based cultural traditions.

“As people who have lived in reciprocity with the Penobscot River for over 10,000 years, there is nobody more committed than the Penobscot people to protecting the health of this watershed,” said the release.

“It is our responsibility to care for that River, for all of us,” said Penobscot activist and filmmaker Dawn Neptune Adams. “Despite many obstacles including ongoing territorial theft and a rapidly increasing number of pollutants, the Penobscot Nation and its people continue to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the health of their beloved Relative, the Penobscot River.

“I always come back to the water because that’s where I belong,” said Penobscot Elder Kathy Paul. “It’s my relative and I want to stay and support that relative.”

The Sunlight Media Collective is an organization of Wabanaki and non-Wabanaki media makers working to document and raise awareness about issues affecting Wabanaki people, with a particular emphasis on the frequent intersection between environmental issues and Tribal rights. Sunlight Media Collective’s work facilitates understanding, analysis and historical context, and provides educational opportunities for alliance building, social change, and environmental stewardship. www.sunlightmediacollective.org.