Every year all five species of salmon return to Southeast Alaska’s Chilkat River to sustain the communities of Haines and Klukwan, as well as insatiable grizzly bears, hordes of fascinated tourists, and the world’s largest gathering of bald eagles. But now a modern-day gold rush is underway in the mountains above the river’s headwaters, and locals are reckoning with the changes that could come with a hard-rock mine.
“Rock-Paper-Fish” offers a vivid look into the lives of Alaskans grappling with questions as immense as the place they call home. Due to the threat of industrial mining, the Chilkat has been named one of “America’s 10 Most Endangered Rivers of 2019” by the nonprofit American Rivers.
Take action at Chilkat.org
Co-directors, Cinematography & Edit – Colin Arisman & Connor Gallagher
Studios – Wild Confluence Media & Nomad Island
Supporters – Patagonia, Peak Design and Southeast Alaska Conservation Council
Motion Graphics & Color – Luke Kantola
Thumbnail & Poster Design – Lawrence Lander
Story Advisor – Ryan Peterson
Sound design – Jeff Yellen (Ridgeline Sound)
Music courtesy – Amon Tobin, Richard Houghton, The Bummers, Sanders Bohlke