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Klamath Unbound: Celebrating a Historic River Restoration
Saturday, December 7 • 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm (check-in open at 11:00 am & music begins at 11:30 am)
Guaranteed seating for event activities in the Auditorium is now at capacity. However, Klamath Unbound remains free and open to the public, with access to all lobby activities as well as the Museum galleries. For guests without a reserved ticket, admittance to event activities in the Auditorium is first-come, first-served as space permits.
Celebrate the completion of the Klamath River dam removal project—the largest of its kind in U.S. history!
Join us at the California Museum on Saturday, December 7, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm to learn about the monumental campaign to restore the Klamath River and honor its cultural, ecological, and environmental significance.
This FREE event features:
- Screening of the Patagonia short film Undammed
- Discussions and Q&As with Native American leaders, ecologists, and environmental advocates
- Screening of the documentary River of Renewal, and an author talk and signing of its companion book
- Basketweaving demonstrations
- Music performances
- Plus: Bigfoot Frybread on-site with delicious frybread and tacos available for purchase
Member Discount: Members receive 20% off River of Renewal books, for sale at the Museum store on the day of the event.
Admission to “Klamath Unbound” also provides access to all temporary and signature exhibits at the California Museum.
Join us to celebrate a new chapter for the Klamath River and its communities!
11:30 am – 12:00 pm, Lobby
Music performance
Enjoy live music by the Kohler-Chesnut family
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Lobby
Basketweaving demonstrations
Learn about traditional basketweaving techniques and materials from the experts! Featuring Jennifer Bates (Mewuk), renowned basketmaker for over four decades; Dixie Rogers (Karuk), accomplished weaver and cultural practitioner; and Dorothy Sylvia (Yurok/Hupa/Karuk), master weaver and clothing designer.
12:00 pm – 12:20 pm, Auditorium
Screening: “Undammed”
A short film by Shane Anderson that recently premiered at Telluride’s 2024 Mountain Film Festival, Undammed follows Yurok tribal attorney Amy Bowers Cordalis as she fights to restore the Klamath River and protect her Tribe’s future through the largest dam-removal project in U.S. history.
12:20 pm – 1:00 pm, Auditorium
Discussion: How the Klamath was Undammed
This panel, covering the obstacles and triumphs involved in the decades-long campaign to restore the Klamath River, will be moderated by Stephen Most (author of “River of Renewal”). Audience members will have the opportunity to participate in a brief Q&A following the presentation.
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm, Lobby
Flower Dance songs by the K’iwinya’n-ya:n Singers
This group of Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk singers will be sharing Flower Dance songs, which are traditionally sung for a girl’s coming of age ceremony in the villages along the banks of the Trinity, Salmon, and Klamath rivers. Historically very common among California Tribes, the Flower Dance ceremony became dormant in many communities following the Gold Rush. This group of singers, along with others from their home area, has been instrumental in reviving this ceremony to ensure it continues for future generations, keeping traditions alive.
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm, Auditorium
Discussion: Indigenous Science & Traditional Ecological Knowledge – Fire Lighting
Elizabeth Azzuz, Cultural Fire Management Council of the Yurok Tribe, and Frank Kanawha Lake, research ecologist specializing in fire and fuels, will discuss the role of planned fire lighting and other environmental management strategies in the Klamath watershed restoration, and how these traditional practices can be applied more widely in California. This panel will be moderated by Sadie Hampshire (F.L.I.C.K.E.R. Fire Crew Cultural Prescribed Burn Practitioner) and audience members will have the opportunity to participate in a brief Q&A following the presentation.
2:20 pm – 2:30 pm, Auditorium
Book talk: “River of Renewal”
Author Stephen Most will discuss the new edition of his book, “River of Renewal: Myth and History in the Klamath Basin” (2024), which traces the history of the Klamath Basin and the challenges in balancing economic and ecological concerns in the region among stakeholders such as federal and state government agencies, Native American Tribes, hydroelectric dam operators, and the farming and commercial fishery industries.
2:30 pm – 3:40 pm, Auditorium
Screening: “River of Renewal” film
The inspiration for Stephen Most’s book by the same name, “River of Renewal” received the Best Documentary Award at the American Indian Film Festival and was broadcast on PBS. Co-director Jack Kohler will provide an introduction to the film and will be available to answer questions after the screening.
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm, Lobby
Book signing: “River of Renewal”
Author Stephen Most will sign copies of his book, “River of Renewal: Myth and History in the Klamath Basin” (2024), which will be available for purchase in the Museum Store while supplies last.
Location:
California Museum
1020 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Visitor information, including parking and public transit options, can be found here. For questions, contact us at museuminfo@californiamuseum.org.
What if I don’t have an event ticket?
If you do not have an event ticket, you can still attend all Lobby events and visit the Museum exhibits. You also can join the standby line and may be able to attend Auditorium events, depending on seat availability.
Is this event suitable for all ages?
All ages are welcome, but the presentations will be best enjoyed by ages 12 and up.
Does my ticket provide admission to the Museum?
Yes, your event ticket will provide access to all California Museum exhibits.
What time can I check in?
Formal check-in starts and theater seating begins at 11:00 a.m.. However, the Museum opens at 10:00 a.m. and guests are welcome to arrive at any time after opening to explore the exhibits.
Where can I park?
The Bonderson Garage is directly across the street from the Museum on the corner of 10th & O Streets and offers a $3 flat rate on Saturdays (cash or credit card). Metered street parking is available on streets surrounding the Museum.
Is there bicycle parking?
A limited amount of bicycle parking is available around the building and across the street. It is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
What about public transportation?
The Museum is located at the Archives Plaza stop of Regional Transit’s Light Rail and a convenient transportation option for the event. For more information on routes, schedules and fares, visit: http://www.sacrt.com.