Movie Monday: Yakutat Youth Films

This spring, middle school students in Yakutat took on a bold challenge: what will life in their community look like a century from now? Over two weeks, they explored that question through hands-on documentary filmmaking, weaving together interviews, archival footage, and their own creative voices.

The project culminated in the Yakutat Youth Film Festival, where more than ten student-made films lit up the big screen for friends, families, and neighbors. Laughter, pride, and applause filled the theater as the community gathered to celebrate the voices of its youngest storytellers. These films reveal what matters most to Yakutat youth in preserving traditions, caring for the land, and imagining futures rooted in connection.

One of those stories is Yakutat Subsistence, a short documentary created by Dyson and Greg created during the Yakutat: 100 Years From Now youth film workshop.

Subsistence is more than food in Yakutat—it’s a way of life, a connection to family, and a right secured through decades of advocacy. As community member Glenn Israelson shares in the film, “There were roughly 27 years of court battles between the state of Alaska and the federal government to determine that rural Alaska residents should have priority for subsistence use of Fish and Game on federal lands. I think that was a huge win for small communities all over the state.”

The film also looks to the future. One student imagines, “100 years from now, I want my grandkids to be fishing and hunting the same land I did, and for the populations to be preserved for the future generations to enjoy too.”

Through stories of hunting, fishing, and berry picking, Yakutat Subsistence shows how deeply rooted this practice is in community identity and how vital it is to protect for the next 100 years.

🎥 Watch the film: Yakutat Subsistence or click the still below to watch!

 

Discussion Questions

• What role does subsistence play in shaping identity, culture, and daily life in Yakutat?
• Looking 100 years into the future, what challenges and hopes do you see for preserving subsistence traditions?

---

This workshop was funded provided by the National Park Service, the Alaska Mental Health Trust, and the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

Join us back here for our next Movie Monday, a weekly showcase of student- and educator-produced films from our workshops across Alaska. Each film tells a unique story—shedding light on history, cultural traditions, and pressing social issues.

---

Check out our growing library of lesson plans on our Teacher Tools online community! Register today to access for educators who want to bring cultural storytelling into the classroom! If you’re an educator interested in integrating storytelling and cultural preservation into your classroom, check out Teacher Tools—our online community where educators can access free lesson plans, digital storytelling resources, and more.

Find our new TeacherTools online community here: See Stories Teacher Tools Community