For Thanksgiving: The Struggle for Rattlesnake Island

Each year at Thanksgiving, many Americans celebrate food, family and the history of the United States. But for Indigenous people their land and sacred places continue to be threatened by American colonization. In this Thanksgiving documentary, George Lavender takes us to Lake County, California, and the site of an ongoing campaign to protect Rattlesnake Island. It’s a place sacred to the Elem Tribe and a current struggle in 500 years of Indigenous resistance.

This documentary was produced by George Lavender and edited by Shannon Young. Our technical production team at KPFA in Berkeley includes Rose Ketabchi, Shaunnah Ray and Zayn Qarissli.