Elaine Howtopat “Mukmuk.” Photo by Christopher Ward.
On Tuesday December 3rd, Yakama Nation Fisheries hosted a Premier Screening of “These Sacred Hills,” a documentary film about the Rock Creek Band of the Yakama Nation, who are fighting the Northwest’s largest proposed pumped storage project which is sited on traditional First Foods and medicine gathering grounds.
CRITFC Chair and Yakama Nation Tribal Councilman Jeremy Takala addressing the crowd. Photo by Christopher Ward.
Yakama Nation and environmental allies oppose the Goldendale pumped storage project that would destroy five individual archaeological sites and three distinct traditional cultural properties — including Pushpum, a sacred area, translated in English to “the Mother of Roots.”
Kamiltpa Chief Bronsco Jim Jr., photo by Yakama Nation Fisheries PIO Michael David Bushman.
This film follows the Chief of the Kamiltpa/Rock Creek Band, Bronsco Jim Jr., Yakama Nation Tribal Council Member and CRITFC Chair Jeremy Takala, and CRITFC Watershed Manager, Elaine Harvey who have been leading the fight against development projects that claim to provide green energy despite being sited on traditional hunting/fishing/gathering lands and causing the permanent destruction of sacred areas. Insights from Indigenous affairs reporter Toastie Oaster of High Country News and historian Professor Dr. Andrew Fisher of William & Mary College, deepened the conversation about environmental justice and the preservation of Indigenous sovereignty in the face of modern development.
These Sacred Hills is an independent film project by Jacob Bailey and Christopher Ward. To follow this film and stay informed on latest developments in the campaign to stop the Goldendale pumped storage project follow Sacred Hills Film on Facebook and Instagram.
CRITFC Watershed Manager Elaine Harvey addressing the crowd during prescreening meal. Photo by Yakama Nation Fisheries PIO Michael David Bushman.