Nechako

Nechako - It Will be a Big River Again

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Movie at 7:00 pm | Doors open at 6:30 pm
Tickets: Pay what you can

After decades of resistance, two Indigenous Nations fight to restore the Nechako River and protect their land, culture, and way of life. The film follows their legal battle, environmental efforts, and deep connection to the river.

When the Kenney Dam was built in the 1950s, it diverted most of British Columbia’s Nechako River to power an aluminum smelter—devastating ecosystems and the Stellat’en and Saik’uz Nations who depend on its waters. Seventy years later, these Nations continue their struggle against powerful institutions in a landmark legal case to restore the river’s flow and protect their way of life.

Filmmaker and Indigenous scholar Lyana Patrick (Stellat’en First Nation) weaves personal reflection with urgent testimony from Elders, leaders, and land defenders who refuse to give up on the Nechako. Nechako: It Will Be a Big River Again is a powerful chronicle of resistance and renewal—a call to action reminding us that survival must serve everyone, and that the health of our lands and waters is inseparable from our own.

Thanks to Co-operators for their funding support