**“Diverted: Indigenous Stewardship and Saving Great Salt Lake” Documentary to Debut with Two Free Screenings in November**
Amid the ongoing decline of the Great Salt Lake’s water levels, a new documentary film focusing on Indigenous perspectives and solutions will make its feature-length debut this November. *Diverted: Indigenous Stewardship and Saving Great Salt Lake* is set to screen on two dates:
– **Thursday, November 6, 7:00 PM** at Fisher Brewing Company (320 West 800 South, SLC) – 21+ event
– **Thursday, November 20, 7:00 PM** at Utah Film Center (375 West 400 North, SLC)
Both events are free and open to the public. The first screening will be followed by a Q&A panel featuring the filmmakers and some participants from the film.
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### About the Documentary
Filming for *Diverted* began in 2023 as a personal passion project by Director Valene Peratrovich and producers McCaulee Blackburn and Cristian Martinez. The team later expanded the project in a class setting at Salt Lake Community College before receiving a grant from the Wake the Great Salt Lake (WakeGSL) project to further develop the film.
WakeGSL is a temporary public art initiative supported by the Salt Lake City Arts Council and the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office. Over the past 18 months, WakeGSL has commissioned more than a dozen projects by local and international artists to inspire care, creativity, and action for the future of the Great Salt Lake.
“Film, as a medium, is a powerful storytelling tool with meaningful and inspiring impacts,” said Andrew Shaw, lead of the Wake the Great Salt Lake project. “By making the story of Great Salt Lake and Indigenous perspectives accessible across our watershed and around the world, *Diverted* will open new opportunities for artists, activists, farmers, legislators, and everyone in our community to imagine a better future for Great Salt Lake and contribute to its restoration.”
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### Indigenous Voices at the Forefront
From the outset, the filmmakers aimed to highlight Indigenous leaders and activists’ views on addressing the ongoing disappearance of Utah’s iconic lake, elevating voices often overlooked in mainstream discussions.
“We’ve scienced this problem to death,” says Darren Parry, former chair of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, featured in the film. “We have to start looking at the problem from a different view. Why not maybe an Indigenous view?”
Other interviewees include:
– Brad Parry, Vice Chair of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation
– Elizabeth Kronk Warner, Dean of the School of Law at University of Utah
– Local activist Carl Moore
– And several others
“We’re going to the wisdom keepers, scholars, and community members, bringing them all together to find commonality,” said Director Valene Peratrovich.
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### Event Details
**Thursday, November 6**
7:00 PM
Fisher Brewing Company
320 West 800 South, Salt Lake City (21+ event)
Followed by a Q&A panel
**Thursday, November 20**
7:00 PM
Utah Film Center
375 West 400 North, Salt Lake City
**Cost:** Free and open to the public
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### About the Filmmakers
The team behind *Diverted* are former students of Salt Lake Community College, with backgrounds in film, radio, and journalism.
– **Valene Peratrovich**, Director, is a staff member at KRCL Radio and formerly co-hosted the Sunday morning program *Living the Circle of Life*, dedicated to showcasing Indigenous culture and life.
– **McCaulee Blackburn**, Producer, previously worked with the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, covering water use issues in Utah.
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### About Wake the Great Salt Lake
Wake the Great Salt Lake is a temporary public art project designed to educate and inspire residents and visitors about the importance of the Great Salt Lake and the urgent need to prevent its decline.
The project is a partnership between the Salt Lake City Arts Council, the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office, and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge, with additional support from Kem and Carolyn Gardner, the Marcia and John Price Family Foundation, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Zions Bank, Shaelene Gee, the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation, Lawrence T. Janet T. Dee Foundation, Delta Air Lines, GFiber, and others.
For more information, visit [wakegsl.org](https://wakegsl.org).
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### About Salt Lake City Arts Council
The Salt Lake City Arts Council promotes, presents, and supports artists and arts organizations to develop the local arts community and benefit the public by expanding awareness, access, and participation.
Learn more at [saltlakearts.org](https://saltlakearts.org).
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### About the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office
Mayor Erin Mendenhall leads Salt Lake City, Utah’s capital and most populous city. Known for its booming economy, vibrant arts scene, and sports culture, Salt Lake City is committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable community.
The city is governed by an elected mayor and seven part-time City Council members. Salt Lake City has hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and will welcome the world again for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
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### About Elle Marketing and Events
Elle Marketing and Events is a full-service boutique marketing, branding, and event company. Their expert team tells compelling business stories through copywriting, imagery, branding, creative design, social media, videography, photography, and strategic event planning.
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For media inquiries, high-resolution images, or further information, please contact the filmmakers or visit the associated websites.
https://www.prunderground.com/diverted-indigenous-stewardship-and-saving-great-salt-lake-to-screen-in-november-2/00367251/
