The short film 'Almost Ancestors' illustrates the parallel paths of displacement experienced by Mexican gray wolves and indigenous peoples.

Sheila Hollow Horn is Dineh and Oglala Lakota, and was born and raised in Tuba City on the Navajo and Hopi reservations. Sheila has numerous Hopi family members and  plays the lead role of the Hopi Daughter in 'Almost Ancestors'.

Bertram Tsavadawa grew up in his family home on the plaza in the village of Old Oraibi and has been guiding tours on Hopi lands for over 15 years. Bertram plays the Hopi Uncle in 'Almost Ancestors'.

Sheila and Bertram talked about their backgrounds, cultural impacts throughout their life and the messages they hoped the film would convey to the public.

Almost Ancestors Trailer

Almost Ancestors Information

Lobos of the Southwest 

Emily Renn is the Executive Director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project, and Erin Hunt is the Managing Director for Lobos of the Southwest. Both were heavily involved in celebrating and promoting the 25th Anniversary of the Mexican Gray Wolf being reintroduced into the wild.

Emily and Erin spoke in depth about the challenges this specific population of wolf encounters politically, socially and geographically, the background of both their organizations, and the ways they are promoting positive information distribution about Mexican Gray Wolves.

Lobos Of the Southwest

Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project

@gcwolfrecovery

@lobosofthesouthwest

Julia Cook is a wildlife photographer based in Wyoming who is currently finishing her degree in Environmental and Natural Resources. She has an incredible portfolio, capturing images from wildlife in and around Yellowstone National Park ranging from bears to wolves.

Julia spoke about her upbringing near Yellowstone, the influence that the natural environment has had on her photography, and the message she tries to convey with her photos to the community at large.

**For this episode we spoke about 3 specific wolf photos of Julia's. Click the links in the description to hear her stories on each one!**

Wolf Photo 1

Wolf Photo 2

Wolf Photo 3

@julia.littlelightningnature

Little Lightning Nature Website

Rachel Tilseth is the Producer & Director and Manish Bhatt is the Associate Producer of People & Wolves: A Wisconsin Story Mired in Political Intrigue. The film tells the story of Wisconsin’s gray wolves, the controversies surrounding them, and how people learn to coexist as these native predators are finally back on the landscape after nearly 45 years.

Rachel and Manish both spoke about the filmmaking process, the impact these issues have had on them personally, and what they are looking to achieve with the films message.

Wolves of Douglas County Website

People & Wolves Trailer

Donate to the Film

@peopleandwolves

This is a recording of the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies event that took place in Aspen, Colorado on Wednesday, March 15th, 2023.

The event starts with a presentation by keynote speaker Joanna E. Lambert, PhD, who is a Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado – Boulder.

The presentation was followed up with a panel discussion moderated by John Calfa and included Matt Barnes, Gary Skiba, Karin Vardaman, Lenny Klinglesmith and Matt Yamashita. They discussed the concerns and realities surrounding wolf reintroduction, while explaining solutions to those issues brought up by the community.

@acesaspen

@mattk.barnes

Coexistence with Wolves in Colorado

ACES Website

@rockymtnwolf

Marc Cooke and Kim Bean are the President and Vice President of the non-profit organization Wolves of the Rockies. Since 2011, their mission has been to protect and defend the wolves of Yellowstone National Park & the Rocky Mountains while trying to enact positive change for all wolves across the country.

They spoke to us about wolf and grizzly bear bills being proposed in the Montana legislature, as well as the impact of these bills should they be voted into law.

Wolves of the Rockies

@wolves_of_the_rockies

@thewolfconnectionpod

Garrick Dutcher is the Research & Program Director for Living with Wolves. He has been working on wolf related education in Idaho for over 20 years.

Living with Wolves is dedicated to engaging the public worldwide in education, outreach and research to promote truth and understanding about wolves, while encouraging coexistence and inspiring people to take action to protect them.
 
Garrick spoke about the policies that are influencing wolf management in Idaho, the misconceptions surrounding wolves, and what people should expect to see in the Idaho Wolf Management Plan when it is released.

Living With Wolves

@living_w_wolves

Idaho Wolf Management Plan (DRAFT)

Erica Berry is the author of Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear. This is her first novel which is available on Amazon and other book retailers, as well as all audiobook platforms.

She shared in depth about the influence wolves had on her while writing Wolfish, the impact she hopes the book will make, and the personal experiences she encountered during the process.

Wolfish on Amazon

@ericajberry

@macmillanusa

Wolf Hollow was founded 35 years ago by Paul Soffron in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Today, the original mission is carried on by his family, the staff and the volunteers which states, “To preserve the wolf in the wild, through education and exposure.”

Zee Soffron is the Facility and Program Director at Wolf Hollow. He spoke about the beginnings of Wolf Hollow with his father, the goal and mission of the organization, and the day-to-day operations.

 Wolf Hollow Website

@wolf_hollow_ma

Jim and Jo Stanko's ranch has been in the family since 1907 near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They utilize several conservation initiatives on their land, along with placing 143 acres into a conservation easement which is home for several wildlife species. They have received the Leopold Conservation Award for their efforts.

Jo Stanko discussed the history, daily operations, and the dynamics surrounding the ranch. She delved into their conservation efforts, teaching methods of coexistence and the issues surrounding the wolf reintroduction on the Western Slope.

 Sand County Foundation Stanko Ranch

Jo Stanko Appointed to New Job with Department of Agriculture

Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan DRAFT