Watchlist: ‘The American Southwest’

By Kamiah Koch

Social media/digital journalist

Indigenous model and activist, Quannah ChasingHorse, is the new David Attenborough.

A wildlife documentary narrated by ChasingHorse was released on Friday, Sept. 5, called “The American Southwest.”

“This story follows the Colorado (River) on its journey to sustain society and the natural world,” ChasingHorse said in the trailer. “And is a call to action to conserve the wildlife and wild places in the American Southwest.”

The documentary by Fin & Fur Films, a film group working to amplify conservation efforts, posted an official trailer in August to YouTube. The trailer highlights the natural landscape along the Colorado River.

“Fueled by snowmelt from the Rockies, the river and its tributaries grow with each confluence and pump life into the harsh Mojave and Sonoran deserts,” ChasingHorse said. “Along it’s nearly 15,000 mile journey the Colorado connects the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California and nurtures landscapes that are bursting with wildlife.”

As she narrates, a large bird flies over the frigid headwaters of the Colorado River with a snowy bank before transitioning to a larger and warmer section of the river that is lined with lush greenery.

The documentary shows birds, beavers, fish, elk, insects, snakes and an ocelot, who all call the river their home.

“Water is the divine force in this unforgiving landscape,” ChasingHorse said. “It is the most essential and precious resource that has supported humanity for over 1,000 generations.”

In the trailer, an aerial view of the river in a desert canyon is the backdrop behind text that reads “A tribute to the mighty Colorado River.”

Screenings are limited to select theaters. For information on where you can see the film, visit https://theamericansouthwest.film/ and watch the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K96ly_uLAPk.

This story will be updated when the film is digitally released.