River struggle documentary to be screened

The Klamath Riverkeeper is sponsoring a local screening of a new film, “Upstream Battle,” that documents the efforts of Yurok, Hoopa, Karuk and Klamath Tribal members who are trying to un-dam the Klamath River.

It’s part of the group’s 2009 Klamath River Film Series, and the first event will take place 7 p.m. Sunday at the Yurok Tribe’s headquarters in Klamath, where German writer/director Ben Kempas will hold a question and answer session along with others who appeared in the documentary.

“There’s definitely a lot of local faces in it,” said Yurok Tribe member Georgiana Myers, who lives and works in Klamath and is the community organizer for the Klamath Riverkeeper. “The greatest thing about it is it resonates with people who have never seen the river or who have never met these tribes.

“But I think it really resonates with the folks at home,” she added, “and that’s what’s important.”

The film tells the story of local tribal members who are working to restore Klamath River salmon populations by pushing for the removing four hydroelectric dams that are owned by Portland, Ore.-based  PacifiCorp.

Sunday’s screening in Klamath is the first of seven scheduled showings of “Upstream Battle” in Northern California, including in Arcata, Hoopa, Orleans, Ashland, Klamath Falls and Yreka, over the next week.

All showtimes are at 7 p.m., and admission is by sliding-scale donations of $5-$20, though a Klamath Riverkeeper press release states no one will be turned away for lack of funds, and work-trade volunteers are welcome.

More information on the Klamath Riverkeeper Film Series can be found at www.klamathriver.org/films.

If You Go

•What: Screening of “Upstream Battle,” a documentary about local tribes working to un-dam the Klamath River.

•When: 7 p.m. Sunday

•Where: Yurok Tribe headquarters, 190 Klamath Blvd., Klamath

•Admission: Sliding-scale donations of $5-$20, though no one will be turned away for shortage of funds and work-trade volunteers are welcome