Usugilix Awakun trailer

Through a series of mini-documentaries produced by Spruce Tone Films, First Nations Development Institute is showcasing Tribal ecological stewardship practices that are protecting natural resources essential to the culture and sustainability of Native communities.
The films are being produced as part of First Nations’ Indigenous Partnership to Advance Native American Communities and Producers project, which launched in 2022.
This film, “Usugilix Awakun: We Are Working Together,” focuses on the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska and Unangax̂ scientist, Shayla Shaishnikoff, and her unwavering dedication to preserving ancestral traditions, culture, and the health of her community. As the Tribe’s Resilience Project Manager, Shayla is researching the reasons for unprecedented levels of a paralytic toxin in the area and its impact on shellfish - a staple food for the Unangan people.