PIt River Stories

PDFtoJPG.me-17.jpg — About Pit River people, by Pit River people

This film will encompass Pit River history, language, art, music, spirituality, and political action from the early 1800s to today. Focusing on three generations, the Pit River Documentary will explore the bloody birth of California, the battles to regain their traditional territory in the 1970s, the current struggle to acknowledge and heal from generational trauma, and the continued fight to protect their homelands from environmental degradation.

Never before seen footage, new interviews, and research

|TEAM|

Sky Scholfield (Wintu/Pit River) is the producer of the Pit River documentary, with over ten years of experience creating for community and public organizations including North State Public Radio and The Smithsonian Institute.

**Jonathon Freeman, cultural/funding advisor**

Jonathon Freeman (Choctaw/Chichimeca) is a community organizer at Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency. He was a program director for the Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development in Arcata, California.

Claire Haines (2).jpg — Claire Haines, production advisor

Claire Haines is an award winning bay area filmmaker, working as an editor and producer on various independent films. She currently works as an Associate Producer at GoPro and continues to support the independent film community.

Radley Davis (Iss Awi/Pit River) is a board member of the International Indian Treaty Council and a co-chair of the Advocates for the Protection of Sacred Sites.

Kim Weir, a former NSPR news reporter, is the editor and founder of Up the Road, a nonprofit public-interest journalism project dedicated to sustaining the Northern California story. She is also an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers.

grant hayes (2).jpg — Grant Hayes, camera operator

Grant Hayes is an independent filmmaker with a master’s degree in visual anthropology at San Francisco State University.

Louise Davis (Pit River) was born and raised in Shasta County, California. Her grandfather, Willard Rhodes, was a Pit River spiritual leader and played a key role in many decisions and actions during the 1960s and 1970s, and throughout his life. Davis, continues to carry on the Pit River culture and plays an important role in her community.

Vanessa Scholfield, Mental Health Expert

Vanessa Scholfield is Madesi Pit River, Wailacki and Wintun. Vanessa has a B.A. in Psychology and a M.A in Social Work with a Mental Health concentration. She is delighted to be a part of this project where she will combine her passions for both Native American cultural and social justice and the process of healing after trauma.