Scha'nexw Elhtal'nexw Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life

Documentary i darrell hillaire, beth basa pielert

Scha’nexw Elhtal’nexw Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life is an hour-long documentary inspired by the late Chexanexwh Larry Kinley, a Lummi fisherman and tribal leader who embodied a belief in tribal sovereignty. The film follows two Lummi families fishing for sockeye. As they come to grips with a depleting fishery, Larry asks: “Who Are We Without Salmon?” Celebrating the resilience and adaptive natures of salmon and the people, the film is a reflection on a spiritual life way centered on respect and gratitude for salmon.

TRT: 60 Minutes

Release: November 4, 2024

Expiration:

Distributor: WORLD – Local USA

NOLA:

Rights:

darrell hillaire

Producer/Director/Writer
Darrell Hillaire is a Lummi Nation elder and a great-grandson of Frank Hillaire. In 1920, Frank Hillaire formed the Children of the Setting Sun Song and Dance Group in response to rapid colonial settlement which included making illegal, traditional Coast Salish cultural practices including song, dance, language and gatherings such as the potlatch. Children of the Setting Sun Song and Dance Group included many of Frank’s grandchildren. Prior to his passing, Frank instructed his grandchildren and future descendants to: 'Keep My Fires Burning.' Darrell has endeavored to follow his instructions throughout his lifetime, from serving as Chairperson and Treasurer of Lummi Indian Business Council for 15 years to providing a home for his children by building and running the Lummi Youth Academy for 13 years, and more recently, as Executive Director and Co-Founder of Children of the Setting Sun Productions (CSSP). CSSP is a Native owned and operated 501(c)(3) located in Bellingham, Washington within 5 miles of Lummi Nation. Darrell leads the projects based on lifetime relationships with elders and spiritual leaders within the Coast Salish Territory and has grown close to many of the elders through the development of Children of the Setting Sun Production work.

Beth Basa Pielert

Producer/Director/Writer
Beth Basa Pielert is a Producer/Director/Writer of television and documentary films. She is the co-director and co-writer of Scha'nexw Elhtal'nexw Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life airing on PBS for Native American Heritage Month, November 2024. Pielert formed Good Film Works in 2001 while writing and directing Out of the Poison Tree for PBS, a documentary that explores truth and reconciliation for survivors of the Cambodian Genocide. Her work has included the award-winning films: The Corporation and Claiming the Title: Gay Olympics on Trial. Under Good Film Works, Pielert has produced, directed, and edited documentary films for multiple Bay Area nonprofits and arts organizations helping to improve public schools in underserved communities and eradicate homelessness. In another life, Pielert was the Video Director for Electronic Arts|Visceral Games, marketing and shipping the epic first-person games Dead Space 2 & 3 and Battlefield Hardline. Beth is currently developing a thriller series titled: Leaves Awaken which centers on a Seattle based podcaster who returns to her maternal Rez to explore the mystery surrounding her mother’s death, unearthing the horrific connection between clear cutting, human trafficking and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

Walt Pourier

Vice Chair

Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

lynn palmanteer-holder

Lynn Palmanteer-Holder, an Indigenous plateau woman of North Central Washington and member of eight of twelve Tribes of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Lynn recently retired as inaugural Director of Tribal Government Affairs for Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, the state’s oversight agency of 34 CTCs.  She is a highly accomplished professional that spans over 40 years. She is an experienced educator that has a demonstrated history across K12, post-secondary & higher education as a teacher, school counselor, superintendent, researcher, and professor. Also, she has diverse experience as an entrepreneur, Tribal leader and administrator. She is skilled in curriculum and program development, facilitating government to government relationships that led to formal partnerships between state institutions and Tribes developing custom programs. Lynn has served on many boards and has been recognized for various statewide, and national awards. She has several scholarly publications and has done various conference presentations and speaking engagements, at the local, national and international level. Lynn holds a Ph.C. (ABD) in Social Welfare Policy from University of Washington. She earned her M.Ed., with a concentration in counseling psychology from Washington State University and B.Ed., in K12 Education from Eastern Washington University. Lynn is a wife of 49 years, a mother of three adult professional children, granny of 10 and great granny to two. Lynn and her husband are high school sweethearts, and together enjoy time with their 15+ two-legged blessings.