U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
        Here’s how you know
    Goverment symbol**Official websites use .gov**
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Lock symbol**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            A lock (
              A locked padlock
                 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive
              information only on official, secure websites.
 Skip to main content JoinDonate
    About
    About
          About
        
About menu block one
  

        
        What We Do
                Our Impact
                Agency FAQs
About menu block two
  

        
        Our Team
                Careers
About menu block three
  

        
        Agency Overview
                            Budget and Performance Plans
                Disability and Accessibility
                Federal Register Notices
                Open Government
                Plain Writing
                Privacy Policy
                Strategic Plan

  

  
Serve
    Serve
          Serve
        
Serve menu block one
  

        
        AmeriCorps
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                            AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program
Serve menu block two
  

        
        Volunteer
                            9/11 Day
                MLK Day
Serve menu block three
  

        
        Find Your Fit
                Serve FAQs

  

  
Partner
    Partner
          Partner
        
Partner menu block one
  

        
        How it Works
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                Research and Evaluation
                Volunteer Generation Fund
Partner menu block two
  

        
        Partnerships
                Communities and Initiatives
                Funding Opportunities
Partner menu block three
  

        
        Partner FAQs

  

  
Members & Volunteers
    Members & Volunteers
          Members & Volunteers
        
Members & Volunteers menu block one
  

        
        Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Education Award FAQs
Members & Volunteers menu block two
  

        
        Alumni
                Members in VISTA
Members & Volunteers menu block three
  

        
        Member and Volunteer FAQs
                Safety and Security

  

  
Grantees & Sponsors
    Grantees & Sponsors
          Grantees & Sponsors
        
Grantee & Sponsors menu block one
  

        
        State Service Commissions
                State and National Direct Grantees
                State Subgrantees
                VISTA Sponsors
                Research and Evaluation Grantees
                Volunteer Generation Fund and Days of Service Grantees
Grantee & Sponsors menu block two
  

        
        RSVP Grantees
                Foster Grandparent Program Grantees
                Senior Companion Program Grantees
                Senior Demonstration Program Grantees
                NCCC Project Sponsors
Grantee & Sponsors menu block three
  

        
        Manage Your Grant
                Grantee and Sponsor FAQs

  

  
Newsroom
    Newsroom
          Newsroom
        
Newsroom menu block one
  

        
        News
                Blog
Newsroom menu block two
  

        
        Stories
                Events
Newsroom menu block three
  

        
        In the News
                Communication Resources



  
Contact
    Contact
    JoinDonate
search Breadcrumb

              Earth Day: A future filmmaker’s start with AmeriCorps
      Submitted by 
rfrazier
 on 
Fri, 04/22/2022 - 11:21Apr 22, 2022
        Renée Holt
  

                    Meadow Wheaton is an AmeriCorps member serving in the VISTA program with Nez Perce Tribe Wapaayatat Water Resources Climate Program in Idaho.

During her service, Meadow created a short documentary about the love, protection, and continuation of the ancestral practice of gathering camas – one of the Nez Perce’s first foods which is still harvested annually. The documentary focuses on her family and Tribal ecological knowledge – traditional knowledge and, like Western science, based on the accumulation of generational observations. Meadow has been finalizing the documentary at Musselshell Meadows, part of the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. As a part of her year-end service, Meadow presented her work on the importance of land stewardship as a Nez Perce tribal member to the program’s regional director Dylan Davids. She shared some details about how her experience has helped to shape her future.

“It started snowing on us as my great-grandma and I dug roots on a hilltop. We laughed at the audacity as the skies changed to rain and hail, but still I was elated because the moment was special. That was the first time I had ever gathered [camas] roots. I was not a little girl then. It was 2021 and I was 24.

Growing up, I wasn't taught the traditional ways, but through filmmaking I found an avenue of learning. As my final project for VISTA service, I decided to produce a short documentary about Musselshell Meadows. The camas there is being affected by climate change and human interference, and the climate change team agreed that what's happening in the meadow could be a learning opportunity about the loss of our traditional foods.

Before I started the project, I was unsure if I’d be able to complete it due to the oversaturation of the field. But I was able to explore ideas and project opportunities with the climate change team.

My supervisor and mentor, Stefanie Krantz, is the climate change coordinator for the Nez Perce Tribe. With her guidance and support, I was able to make this film and learn about climate change and how it's impacting my people's traditional homelands.

It's been a long time coming, but my AmeriCorps experience and this project helped me realize how indigenous perspective is sorely needed in media and scientific communications. This lesson was the deciding factor for me to pursue a degree in broadcasting and digital media at the University of Idaho. I'll be starting Fall 2022.

It’s my goal to be an advocate for our homelands through film.”
From L to R from the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources Climate Change team, AJ Whiteplume Two Moons, Meadow Wheaton, Thomas TallBull, and Stefani Krantz  *From L to R from the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources Climate Change team, AJ Whiteplume Two Moons, Meadow Wheaton, Thomas TallBull, and Stefani Krantz*From an Indigenous perspective, Meadow’s film highlights how her community today continues to defend the land. The Nez Perce people are effectively working to bring change through increasing awareness of and protecting ancestral practices. Like many young adults who choose to serve with AmeriCorps programs, Meadow’s experience also helped her confirm her career path as a filmmaker—and will provide her financial support from the Eli Segal Education Award to help fund her degree.

For more information on the Nez Perce Tribes Water Resources Climate Change program, email Meadow at MeadowW@nezperce.org.
                  





Renée Holt is the project director for Nez Perce Tribe Wapaayatat.
        Renée Holt is the project director for Nez Perce Tribe Wapaayatat. She is a alumna of AmeriCorps, having served from 1997 to 1999 in Lapwai, Idaho.
          PreviousEarth Day: Connecting People to NatureNextMonth of the Military Child:  Service Takes Many Forms Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
  Sign up for our newsletter
    Footer about
  

        
        About
                            What We Do
                Our Impact
                Our Team
                Careers
                Agency OverviewFooter serve
  

        
        Serve
                            AmeriCorps
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                Volunteer
                Find Your FitFooter partner
  

        
        Partner
                            How it Works
                Funding OpportunitiesFooter Members & Volunteers
  

        
        Members & Volunteers
                            Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Alumni
                Safety and SecurityFooter grantees & sponsors
  

        
        Grantees & Sponsors
                            eGrants
                History Checks
                LitmosFooter newsroom
  

        
        Newsroom
                            News
                Blog
                Stories
                Events
                In the News
                Communication Resources
      Bringing Americans together to serve communities

Follow us
  
  1-800-942-2677
            
    help@americorps.gov
    USA.gov / Office of Inspector General / FOIA and Privacy Act / Federal Register notices / No FEAR Act/ Employee Whistleblower Rights / Contractor and Grantee Whistleblower Rights / Office of Special Counsel / STOCK Act / Fraud Alert

Accessibility / Privacy policy / Site map / Donate / Join

**AmeriCorps.gov**
An official website of AmeriCorps. Produced and published at taxpayer expense. 
 You are leaving AmeriCorps.gov
 The website you’re going to is not part of the AmeriCorps domain and may not be under AmeriCorps’ control. Its privacy and security practices and policies may differ from AmeriCorps’. AmeriCorps is not responsible for the link, nor does it endorse the content of the third-party website. Click on the continue button to proceed to the external website; otherwise click cancel to stay on AmeriCorps.gov.
 Cancel Continue