"We Are The River" Film Screening and Panel Discussion

"We Are The River" Film Screening and Panel Discussion

Join us for a screening of the new documentary film, We Are the River: How the Mississippi Shaped Minnesota.

This powerful film brings to life the stories of the Mississippi River told from the perspectives of Dakota elders, aquatic ecologists, paddlers, stewards, and wildlife enthusiasts. Through their voices, the film explores the river's cultural significance, ecological importance, and enduring connection to the people and communities it sustains.

Following the screening, we'll come together for conversation through a panel discussion featuring the filmmakers, local experts, and community voices.

We Are the River film presentation 7 pm | Panel Discussion 8:30 pm

Panelists:

John Anfinson is a Mississippi River historian, author, and former Superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. He previously held positions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, eventually becoming the head of cultural resource management. John is a founding board member of Friends of the Mississippi River and is active in many river-related organizations and initiatives.

Devin Ashley Brown is the founder of Sovereign Waters, a Minneapolis-based organization creating culturally responsive pathways to water confidence, environmental connection, and outdoor leadership. Through Sovereign Waters, Devin works to dismantle barriers that have historically underserved communities from outdoor recreation.

Leya Hale is a 2025 Bush Fellow and documentary filmmaker from the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Diné Nations. A multiple regional Emmy Award-winning producer at Minnesota PBS, she creates nationally broadcast films including Bring Her Home and The Electric Indian. Her latest documentary, Medicine Ball, will be released nationally this fall.

Michael Lansing is Professor of History at Augsburg University. He is the author of A Police State: Politics and Public Safety in Minneapolis, 1945-2020 (2027) and Insurgent Democracy: The Nonpartisan League in North American Politics (2015). He is currently working on Enriched: Industrial Carbohydrates and the Rise of Nutrition Capitalism (under contract with the University of Chicago Press), an environmental and business history of factory-processed grains and the propagation of a political economy that demarcates the way we understand, make, and eat food.

More information about We Are The River
From her pristine beginnings near Lake Itasca, the majestic Mississippi winds through Minnesota's prairies, valleys, and cities, yet her constant presence is easily taken for granted. To the Dakota, she is a sacred relative and source of life; to the European settlers, she was the key to economic prosperity. What do the powerful stories of Native stewards, early industrialists, immigrant families and wildlife guardians say about the Mississippi's future?

With stories told by Indigenous Minnesotans, historians, educators, and river stewards, We Are the River explores the conflicts and contradictions that have surrounded the Mississippi for hundreds of years and celebrates signs of hope and triumph in this resilient ribbon of flowing water.

Running time: 86 minutes

Filmmakers:

Peter Myers, Executive Producer
Peter has conceived and produced three documentaries for Twin Cities PBS: the Emmy Award-winning Never Stop Singing, a celebration of Minnesota's rich choral music legacy; University Avenue: One street, a thousand dreams; and Made in St. Paul: Stories from the Ford Plant. His video work has supported many business, cultural, and human service organizations including Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and Breakthrough Twin Cities. Myers was formerly VP of Communications at Twin Cities PBS where he directed corporate communications, on-air promotion, and community outreach.

Susan Marks, Co-Producer
Susan Marks is an independent documentary filmmaker, best known for Of Dolls and Murder, starring the iconic John Waters. Her follow-up documentary, Murder in a Nutshell, premieres on New Hampshire PBS in 2026. Susan has produced several documentaries for Twin Cities PBS and Pioneer PBS, including the Emmy-Award winning documentaries: Make it OK: Mental Illness & Stigma and Held in Minnesota: Untold WWII POW Stories. She is also a McKnight Fellow, two-time Jerome Artist Fellow in Film, and Minnesota State Arts Board grantee for her independent filmmaking.