Elements is a series of short films that celebrate The Klamath Tribes’ leadership in environmental and cultural resilience through personal stories of Tribal Members and their connection to fire, water, and air. Through the voices of three Tribal Members—Anna, Charlie, and Shuína—the series explores the experience of working to bring back beneficial fire, protect endangered fish populations, and carry forward cultural traditions.

The Klamath Tribes—comprised of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin-Paiute people—have lived in the Klamath River Basin of Southern Oregon from time beyond memory. Their homelands are characterized by diverse ecosystems, including wetlands, rivers, forests, and Upper Klamath Lake, the largest freshwater body west of the Rocky Mountains.

The combined impact of colonization, fire suppression, development, agriculture, and climate change has deeply altered the Klamath Basin’s ecosystems and cultural practices rooted in relationship with the land. Today, the Tribes are leading biocultural restoration to heal the land and their relationship with it.

Learn more about The Klamath Tribes at klamathtribes.org.

loloqs | goh’soh | fire

Featuring Anna Merritt, cultural burn specialist

Anna explores the role of fire in her life and its power to revitalize forests and First Foods.

wičobli | kwinaha | yui hikwa | wind | air

Featuring Shuína Skó, spoken word poet

Shuína explores the connection of nature and culture, reflecting on the role of artists in environmental restoration.