Cinephile

An eerie image of Bigfoot in a dense forest, illuminated by sunlight filtering through tall trees, capturing the legendary creature in its natural habitat.

Indigenous Perspectives Redefine Bigfoot in New OPB Film

A new documentary from OPB shares Indigenous stories revealing Sasquatch as sacred protector interview by Cathy Carroll Long before Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, became a pop-culture icon, Indigenous peoples have viewed the mythical creature as a revered relative. They see Bigfoot not as a monster but as a protector—a spiritual being who teaches humans to respect and care for the earth. In Guardian of the Land, Emmy-nominated director LaRonn Katchia (Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute) weaves oral histories about Bigfoot sightings and stories through the work of four leading contemporary Indigenous artists and thought leaders. The twenty-four-minute film from Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) takes viewers on a sensory journey through the Nch’i-Wána, or Columbia River lands, where Indigenous cultures believe Bigfoot has long cast a watchful eye over them. How did it feel to reclaim that narrative of Sasquatch cinematically, and how did Indigenous oral histories shape your visual…

High-quality image of a videographer recording an interview at an Oregon community center or office, highlighting local media, storytelling, and Oregon-based journalism in focus.

Uncovering Oregon’s Native Boarding School History

OPB uncovers hidden Native American boarding school stories for a national audience through one Oregon woman’s quest interview by Cathy Carroll The film Uncovering Boarding Schools: Stories of Resistance and Resilience is the first in-depth look at the Native American boarding school experience in Oregon, adding new chapters, voices and context. Oregon Public Broadcasting viewers can follow Gabriann “Abby” Hall, a Klamath Tribes member, as she uncovers her relatives’ experiences among countless Indigenous children forcibly removed from their homes by the federal government. OPB producer Kami Horton discussed the one-hour film, made with a crew that included Native American tribal members. How did you honor the trauma of this narrative while also reflecting strength and survival? It was essential to everyone involved that resiliency be a key element throughout the documentary. As Klamath Tribes member Abby Hall says in the documentary, “The children fought back.” We discovered that some of…