Boozhoo (hello) and miigwech (thank you) for taking a few minutes to read about our efforts, cause, and need.

My name is Nisogaabokwe Melonee Montano and I am the Co-Director of a short film titled A Wilderness Act (see the link to watch the trailer) which was released in March 2025, Co-Produced by Evan Larson, and Co-Produced and Directed by Tom Deschenes of Old Saw Media. One of the many things that is unique about this film is that it is an inter-generational effort (two of my three children are also involved with the film and the work associated with its messaging).

*See our Facebook page for regular updates at Facebook A Wilderness Act

We're honored to share that in 2025, our film had been selected to be screened at 13 film festivals (listed below), received four awards (also listed below), and screened at several other special events. The most exciting selection and award was at the Red Nation International Film Festival in Los Angeles California where we won Best Short Doc!! Unfortunately we weren't able to attend in person due to the costs to do so. However, we now have the chance to once again represent our film in person in LA at the upcoming Native Women in Film & TV in All Media - Film Fest (NWIFTV) in March 2026!! This is an extreme honor and a chance for myself and two of my children to attend and celebrate the hard work and efforts we have put into the creation, screening, and education for the film!!

We are asking that you please help us carry our voices to the world of LA for NWIFTV to be part of "the first and largest representation of Native and Indigenous Women Filmmakers" whose mission is "a powerful media initiative aimed at raising global awareness about the glaring lack of inclusion of Native Women in Film & Television in all media. This issue is directly intertwined with the devastating epidemic of Missing and Murdered Native and Indigenous Women, Girls, and People." -NWIFTV

The intentional use of Good Fire on landscapes by Indigenous people had been criminalized for over a century. This has resulted in added layers of inter-generational trauma, forced disconnect from land, negative impacts to once healthy ecosystems, various aspects of culture, cultural identity, and overall survival of people. Returning to the use of Good Fire can be healing for land and people. In addition, we are strong advocates for creating space and elevating Indigenous voices, especially those of Indigenous women, and doing so through film.

Two of us are enrolled in both MS and PhD programs (mother and son in the same MS program and each in separate PhD programs at UMN-TC) and one of us is an amazing Indigenous female artist. Unfortunatley we cannot rely on our film for a source of income and as an artist and grad students, our income is extremely limited. Your donation will directly help cover flights, lodging, ground transportation, and meals!!

About the film:

What does “wilderness” mean to you? Guided by the wisdom of Anishinaabe graduate student Nisogaabokwe Melonee Montano and university professor Evan Larson we learn how the very definitions penned to protect our country’s most precious landscapes can instead perpetuate injustice and lead to the impoverishment of both ecosystems and human cultures. Inspired by the Red Pine forests of the Great Lakes area, including Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the two join together to educate current and future generations about how returning fire to the land, and returning the land to its people, can be healing for all.

Film Festivals of 2025 where it has been screened as well as awards received:

1. Zeitgeist Minnesota Film Festival

2. Wisconsin Film Festival *Award: Audience Choice

3. Freeland Film Festival *Award: Best Short Film

4. Fresh Coast Film Festival

5. Pathways Indigenous Arts Film Festival

6. Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival

7. Red Nation International Film Festival *Award: Best Short Doc

8. Equinox Documentary Film Festival *Award: Best Film

9. Crow River Film Festival

10. Native Lens

11. Latino & Native American Film Festival

12. Lookout Wild Film Festival

13. Ely Film Festival

Upcoming Film Fests (waiting on notification for others as well):

Beloit International Film Festival

Native Women in Film Festival

Ely Film Festival

As mentioned above, p

lease follow the above Facebook page for more info and updates regarding the film.