It’s Time For Movie Monday!
Movie Monday: Situk River
It’s time for Movie Monday!
Today we are sharing the final film in our Yakutat youth workshop series: The Situk River by George Converse.
The Situk River is a place where history, subsistence, and identity flow together. Through the voices of Yakutat community members, the film traces how the river has shaped generations. Families have spent their summers along its banks fishing, gathering, and simply being present with one another. For many, the Situk is a place that holds stories from childhood and memories passed down by grandparents and great-grandparents.
In recent years, the Situk has changed in dramatic ways. Shifting river mouths, erosion, and ecological shifts have altered familiar landscapes. Longtime residents reflect on these changes and the need for care, observation, and stewardship.
One community member shares, “If we are not able to respect our lands, then we cannot respect ourselves.” Another reflects, “I spend a lot of time thinking about how we protect what is left and how we fix what was broken.” These words shape the heart of the film, inviting viewers to consider their own relationships with place and responsibility.
Situk River was created as part of See Stories’ Power of Place workshop with Yakutat Middle School students. This program was supported by the National Park Service, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and the Alaska State Council on the Arts Cultural Collaborations Grant.
🎥 Watch The Situk River here or click the still below:
Discussion Questions
- What relationships between people, salmon, and land stand out in the film?
- What role does subsistence play in shaping community identity in Yakutat?
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