Watch Shoreline

Shoreline is a compelling documentary series produced by the award-winning Indigenius team. Driven to showcase the world's incredible cultural heritage, producer Niobe Thompson and director Tom Radford voyage through the Pacific Ocean, exploring the lives and stories of several indigenous communities while also shedding light on the environmental issues faced by these communities.

The six-part series takes the audience on a journey across the Pacific coast, moving from the Haida people in the Pacific Northwest to the Tuvalu people living on the edge of their sinking island nation. Each episode is a beautifully woven tapestry of indigenous personal stories and awe-inspiring cinematography, whose beauty is only matched by the story they weave.

With Indigenius at the helm, Shoreline tells not just an environmental story of the impacts of climate change, deforestation, and overfishing on indigenous communities but also showcases the impacts of colonialism on the way of life of these communities. But the beauty of the series lies in its ability to convey the hope and resilience of these communities in the face of adversity, making it an inspiring watch.

The first episode of Shoreline titled "The Edge" dives right into the ways indigenous communities on the Pacific Northwest coastline have managed to survive in one of the most challenging environments. The episode introduces the Haida people, a welcoming community that has a deep connection with the sea and the bountiful spring that initially attracted Europeans to the region. The Haida people's tradition of sharing resources has sustained the community for thousands of years, and it seems their way of life continues to be as vital even in the face of the modern world. The show explores the beautiful Haida art, music, and dance; artifacts that tell the story of the community's journey through the ages, and ultimately their fight to preserve their land, traditions, and way of life.

The second episode titled "Sustenance" focuses on the stories of a small village that has been isolated for centuries on the Pacific coast of Vancouver Island. There we meet the Tla-o-qui-aht people, who have learned to go deep into the ocean to harvest from the seabed, and then make the precarious journey to shore where they smoke their catch on the beach. But as global warming relentlessly raises sea levels and warms up the ocean, the Tla-o-qui-aht people, just like other coastal communities, are having to learn how to adapt to the new conditions if they are to survive.

Episode three, "Fish Wars," delves into the PacRim Fishing Wars that have lasted for centuries. Here, the documentary explores the stories of the coastal communities around the Pacific Ocean that are trying to protect their fish stocks from commercial fishing fleets. The show raises the question of the future of the Pacific, where fish populations are dwindling, and governments are struggling to protect their waters.

Episode four, "The Corn Show," showcases the incredible resilience of the Nicoya people and their ability to preserve their traditional way of life. The Nicoya people have been cultivating corn for over seven thousand years, and their knowledge has been passed down from one generation to the next. The show explores the connection between the land and the people and how the Nicoya people have relied on the land to sustain them for countless generations. However, with the modern world encroaching on this traditional way of life, the Nicoya people are having to find new ways to preserve their way of life and protect their heritage.

Episode five, "Invasive Maneuvers," explores the destructive impact of invasive species on ecosystems in Australia, Hawaii, and British Columbia. With the increase in climate change, invasive species are spreading much faster, and it is not just the environment that is suffering. Through storytelling, the show highlights how invasive species have caused the loss of bio-cultural diversity, creating a significant impact on the cultures of indigenous communities.

Finally, the last episode, "New Horizons," is an unforgettable wrap-up showcasing the resilience of indigenous communities and their ability to adapt to new conditions. In the episode, the team explores how the Tuvalu islands are facing the devastating effects of global warming. The show raises the question of how the world's coastline communities will adapt to the massive environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Shoreline by Indigenius is an excellent series that captures the unique stories of indigenous communities and their relationship with the ocean. It is a beautiful tribute to the people of the Pacific coastlines and a call to action for better environmental protection policies.