This year, when we joined the Yurok Tribe and EPIC (the Environmental Protection Information Center) on California’s Klamath River for a once-in-a-lifetime exchange on dam removal. Indigenous tribes on the Klamath River campaigned for dam removal for decades, and this year celebrated the removal of four dams along the river – the largest river restoration in U.S. history. Our partner Celine Lim from SAVE Rivers joined us to witness the impact of their efforts and strategize about ways to increase international Indigenous solidarity on river protection efforts. This visit hit close to the heart of our work in Sarawak, where we face yet another dam-related challenge. Near the Gunung Mulu National Park in the Tutoh-Apoh region, state-owned Sarawak Energy has proposed a series of cascading dams. These dams could seriously threaten the fragile ecosystem of this critical World Heritage Site. With SAVE Rivers, we’re closely monitoring these plans and supporting community petitions against the dam project. Through our continued exchanges with tribes in California, we’re strengthening international solidarity and reinforcing community-led advocacy. Together with SAVE Rivers and other allies, we’re committed to defending these sacred waters, from the Klamath to the Tutoh, and ensuring the voices of Indigenous communities are at the forefront of every decision.
- Film produced by Nub Marketing Agency Directed and shot by Francisco Puentes
- Produced by The Borneo Project
- Edited by Gabriela Azopardo
Special thanks to the Ancestral Guard, Yurok Tribe, and The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC).