5-Part Documentary Series (2025)
cascade pbs
THE LAST REEFNETTERS
Writer / Director / Producer
a sacred heritage
Reefnet fishing is an innovative fishing method developed by the Lummi Nation thousands of years ago. More than just a means of sustenance, it is intrinsically tied to Native culture, identity and spirituality. Following punitive legislation, environmental damage, and devastation caused by a booming canning industry, they were all but removed from the practice.
Creative overview
Functioning as show runner, I wrote the narrative arc of the series and developed a corresponding visual language.
Intimate portraits bring focus and attention to oral storytelling. 2D animated maps and diagrams provide clarity to complex subject matter. And 3D animation helps to bring the mythology of the reefnet to life.
about the series
Today, there are only 12 captains left with a reefnet fishing license in the world, and only one of them is an enrolled tribe member.
The Last Reefnetters is the story of the Salish Sea’s last reefnetters and the legal, spiritual, and cultural subtext that intertwines them.
I pitched The Last Reefnetters to PBS for Season 3 of its Origins series. They selected it to be produced amongst dozens of other applicants.
The series premieres in 2025.
