Documentary Films

The Earth is Our Home



by Elizabeth Patapoff
color, 30 min, 1979



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This documentary about the early Indians of the Great Basin emphasizes the traditional culture of the last 5,000 years. The story unfolds through the words and skills of the older Piaute women of southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada. They tell us how they make cakes from berries, baskets from tulles, cord for nets...necessary daily tasks linked with an ancient heritage. The earth is ever present in the film, wildlife, rivers and marshes, sagebrush desert, all part of the story. The lifeways of the Northern Paiutes are followed through a seasonal cycle, from root-gathering in spring to building shelter in winter.

The Earth is Our Home is an important historical film about Native North Americans. DER thanks Oregon Public Broadcasting for the opportunity to rescue these fine archival films from obscurity. This film is excellent for classroom use from 6th grade to adult.