CHICO >> A historical documentary produced by the Advanced Laboratory for Visual Anthropology (ALVA) at California State University, Chico has earned national and statewide recognition.
“A Walk Through Time: The Story of Anderson Marsh” will soon receive a Governor’s History Preservation Award and was also selected for the 2015 American Indian Film Festival.
“A Walk Through Time” explores the rich history of a group of Pomo Native Americans known as Koi who settled near Clear Lake in Lake County more than 14,000 years ago.
The Koi people were the first to colonize the Anderson Marsh area, which is home to some of the most diverse wildlife and landscape in the state. The film traces the Koi’s history and culture through the 1840s, when they were driven off their land by the influx of non-native settlers.
The 1,300-acre Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in 1982 was established to protect the area’s significant natural and historical resources. The marsh is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its prehistoric archeological significance.
The 28-minute film was produced this year in partnership with the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the Koi Nation of Northern California. It was directed by ALVA lab technician Dan Bruns and produced by state park archaeologist Leslie Steidl, representatives from the Koi Nation and several consulting archaeologists. ALVA director Brian Brazeal served as executive producer.
“We are proud to have been able to tell the story of the Koi Nation, and we are gratified that the governor has recognized our work,” Brazeal said. “This film is the result of successful collaboration between a Native American nation, a state agency and an academic institution to preserve the history of a people and to educate the public. It teaches us about the glories of the ancient past, the injustices of the modern era and the possibility of a future based on the recognition of the sovereignty of native peoples.”
The Governor’s History Preservation Award is presented through the state’s Office of Historic Preservation and recognizes efforts to preserve, promote and highlight California history. The awards will be presented during a Nov. 19 ceremony in Sacramento.
The American Indian Film Festival is hosted by the American Indian Film Institute and is the nation’s oldest venue for American Indian film arts and entertainment. The 40th annual festival will be held Nov. 6-14 in San Francisco.
