April 20th, 2023
Akaku welcomed back ethnographic documentarian Sarah Betcher. For the last decade, Sarah, owner of Farthest North Films has been capturing footage in some of the most remote regions of Alaska, producing insightful films that take viewers into villages and landscapes few people have seen or heard about before. Sarah’s films showcase cultures across the pacific and beyond. Sarah lead a discussion of how ethnographic and documentary films can bring viewers into the essence of culture and tradition.  Akakū Upstairs is a free public event every Third Thursday.

Click the button below to watch Betcher's 1 hour presentation and film showing at Akaku TV.
June 8-11th, 2022
"For four days every other June, the streets of Juneau fill with Native people of all ages dressed in the signature regalia of clans from throughout Southeast Alaska and beyond. There is traditional song and dance. Arts and crafts. Food. And people speaking local Native languages. This is Celebration, our biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures." - https://www.sealaskaheritage.org/institute/celebration

June 11th, 2022 at 4 pm at Centennial Hall
Film Premiere: 40 Years of Celebration
A documentary about the history and origin of Celebration as part of the 40th anniversary (60 mins.).
Sarah Betcher produced the feature length film 40 Years of Celebration in partnership with Sealaska Heritage Institute. Details about the film premier showing, along with the live broadcast on KTOO, can be seen on the link below.
June 8-9th, 2022


"Celebrate World Ocean Day with Pacific Whale Foundation as we present our 6th Annual World Whale Film Festival: Inspiring action for a better, bluer future. In-person and online components start June 8, 2022.
Join us as we showcase films from around the world, invoking the power of storytelling to raise awareness of environmental conservation and major threats impacting nature and humankind." https://www.pacificwhale.org/filmfest/
Sarah Betcher was one of the filmmakers that spoke at the event.
A sign list the featured films at the June 8th in-person event.
Audience members watch Ice Edge on the big screen.
Ice Edge, produced by Sarah Betcher, was one of the 25 films selected as part of the World Whale Film Festival.
Click below to see details about the film screenings.
October 12th, 2020
"Discover Lamont! A Virtual Science Adventure - Take an interactive journey through representations of Lamont's campus and field stations to learn about climate science. This "escape room - like" game will entertain, educate, and keep everyone guessing." - columbia.edu website.
The Arctic Station includes the Ikaagvik Sikukun- Seal Research video produced by Sarah Betcher.
Click below to play Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University's interactive open house game.
February 10th-14th, 2020


The Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE) is a statewide gathering of environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit and for-profit businesses, community leaders, Alaskan youth, conservationists, biologists, and community elders.
Monday February 10th from 3:30 - 4:45, members of the Ikaaġvik Sikukun project will present Ikaaġvik Sikukun: Bridging the Scientific and Indigenous Communities to Study Sea Ice Change. Panelists will each share their contribution to the project, including a promo film produced by Sarah Betcher.
Tuesday February 11th, Betcher's  Ikaagvik Sikukun: Indigenous Perspective of Climate Change film will be shown during the 3:30-4:45 film festival, followed by a Q&A.
Click below to check out the Alaska Forum on the Environment website for more information, including location.
September 26-29, 2019
A Conference of Tlingit, Haida & Tsimshian Tribes & Clans.
Juneau - September 26-29, 2019
Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Change

Nearly 40 talks were video recorded during the conference, including a talk by Sarah Betcher and Aakatchaq Schaeffer. The talk, including 2 short films, is titled Ikaagvik Sikukun [Inupiaq for Ice Bridges].
Click below to view more Sharing Our Knowledge (SOK) videos from 2019 or the SOK website
February 28th, 2019
A teaser for the Rising Whale: 1000 Years Unfolding feature film, along with a panel discussion with Cape Espenberg Archeologists.
-An ethnographic documentary film is being produced that captures the Birnirk history of 1000 years ago and the emergence of Iñupiaq culture at Cape Espenberg. A multidisciplinary project has been performing archeological digs and analysis helping bring to light what influences may have played a role into the artifacts found, house structure, and faunal remains that complement the documentation of ancestral knowledge of the land and its people. Video footage captured archeological, anthropological and traditional knowledge of the land and its people, which is being woven together to bridge western science and traditional ways of obtaining and relaying information.
Sarah Betcher will discuss and show the teaser for the soon to be released Rising Whale: 1000 Years Unfolding feature film she is producing. Check out the Alaska Anthropological Association website for more information.
November 5th, 2018
Pat Race
Director, Juneau Underground Motion Picture Society
Alaska
Alaska is story rich. We’re a state full of strange tales and unthinkable adventures. The long, dark winters are conducive to editing and creative pursuits while the long summer days illuminate some of the most scenic lands in the world.
Appears in: 45th Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival
                                        - https://nwfilm.org/films/alaska-alaska/
11 films were chosen to be showcased in the 45th Northwest Filmmaker's Festival Alaska title, including Sarah Betcher's Sea Ice Secure film.
April 26th-29th, 2018
Three of Sarah Betcher's films will be showcased, including Sea Ice Secure, Navigating Arctic Erosion, and Grocery Store of Our People.
For more information go to:
March 6th & 7th, 2018
Two of Sarah Betcher's films, including Gold Dredging in Nome, Alaska and Sea Ice Secure will be showcased.
March 2nd, 2017
Click below to see the Akakū Upstairs TV episode of Sarah Betcher's talk:
February 18th, 2017
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting is the largest and most widely recognized global science gathering that brings thousands of leading scientists, engineers, educators, policymakers, and journalists from around the world.
For more information about the session that Sarah Betcher and team will host go to:
September 22nd, 2016
“The Polar Film Fest is a showcase of some of the best films on the polar regions available on the internet.” – www. usapecs.wixsite.com
Sarah Betcher's film Counting on Caribou was selected as part of the People at the Poles themed films. For more information go to:
September 21, 2016
September 13th- October 3rd, 2016
September 12th, 2016
Sarah Betcher's talk and film showing titled TIES TO ALASKA’S WILD PLANTS: Preserving Traditional Ethnobotanical Knowledge Through Film Production will be held in the theater of the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, Alaska on September 12th, 2016 from 9:45am-10:45am.
August 22nd, 2016
“You're invited to a screening of the film Counting on Caribou with filmmaker and producer Sarah Betcher on Monday, August 22, 2016 at 1:00 PM in the Gordon Watson Conference Room. This is an opportunity to view a film addressing local perspectives on a subsistence resource in the Northwest Arctic and participate in a discussion with the Alaskan filmmaker.”   -Zachary Stevenson
The location of the screening is being held at:
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
1011 East Tudor Road, MS 121
Anchorage, Alaska

May 31st- June 22nd, 2016
March 22nd, 2016
This event will take place at:
National Park Service (Fairbanks Headquarters)
4175 Geist Road
Fairbanks, AK 99709
March 12th-15th, 2016
Sarah Betcher will be showcasing several new films during the conference.
Check out the events webpage for more information:
March 15th, 2016
There are many speakers during this session. Sarah Betcher will be showing her newest ethnobotany film. The first talk of the session is titled:
Ethnobotany of Northwest Alaska: Preserving traditional knowledge and engaging Alaska native students in STEM.  - Sarah Betcher and Stefanie M. Ickert-Bond

For the full agenda, click here:

March 14th-17th, 2016
Sarah Betcher will have flat screen display showcasing her film trailer of the film series
Tied to the Land.
March 14th, 2016
Sarah Betcher's newest film titled Counting on Caribou will have it's debut showing at this event. 
March 5th & 12th, 2016
One of the films from the six-part film series Tied to the Land will be showcased at both these events.
March 10th-11th, 2016
For more information go to:
January 16th, 2016
For more information go to:
October 12th, 2015
April 15th, 2015
Sarah Betcher will be showing three short films and hosting a discussion about ethnographic filmmaking on April 15th from 3pm-5pm.
For more information go to:
April 20th-23rd, 2015
December 15-19th, 2014
For more information go to:
November 13th, 2014
Arctic Day: What is Hot in the Arctic
Poster session event showcasing research in the arctic
University of Alaska Fairbanks: Regents’ Great Hall
November 13th from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Many participants will be showcasing their research
including Sarah Betcher's poster and film shorts projected on a large screen
November 5th, 2014

“Since 2011, the AK CSC and the five LCCs have worked together to advance our understanding of and response to the effects of climate change in Alaska and Northwest Canada. These efforts are helping resource managers and stakeholders better understand, adapt to, and plan for climate change. The conference will provide an opportunity for resource managers, scientists, and other stakeholders to highlight scientific progress to date, reflect on what has been learned, identify opportunities to increase our capacity and effectiveness, and develop strategic synergy for future work.” - https://csc.alaska.edu/events/climate-conservation-and-community
Effects of Weather and Climate on Subsistence Communities showing is November 5th at 2:40pm,
presented by Zach Stevenson

For more information go to:

October 26th-29th, 2014
360 North is Alaska’s public affairs television channel, offering a full-time schedule of Alaska's public affairs specials, documentaries, historical programs, Native interest shows and coverage of Alaska government.

Tradition in Tune airs:

Sunday October 26th at 9:00PM
Monday October 27th at 3:00AM
Wednesday October 29th at 9:00AM & 3:00PM 

Programing can be seen live at:
to find the 360 North TV channel in your area go to:
October 24th, 2014
September 26th, 2014

July 9th, 2014

Wild Foodie Film Festival and Traditional Foods Potluck
Alaska Pacific University: Grant Hall Theater
July 9th from 5:30-8:30
Effects of Weather and Climate on Subsistence Communities will be shown July 9th at 8pm

For more information go to:
May 12th, 2014

Interior-Aleutians Campus (Fairbanks)
4280 Geist Road
Effects of Weather and Climate on Subsistence Communities
showing is May 12th at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm
April 29th, 2014
April 22nd - 26th, 2014
360 North is Alaska’s public affairs television channel, offering a full-time schedule of Alaska's public affairs specials, documentaries, historical programs, Native interest shows and coverage of Alaska government.

Tradition in Tune airs:

 Tuesday April 22 at 8:00PM & 11:00PM
Wednesday April 23rd at 2:00AM, 5:00AM, 11:00AM & 5:00PM.
Saturday April 26th at 12 Noon. 

Programing can be seen live at:
to find the 360 North TV channel in your area go to:
April 23rd-25th, 2014
7th Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference and Forum (2014)
"Science of a Cold Place in a Warming World"
Hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Chukchi Campus

Kotzebue, Alaska
Nullagvik Hotel Conference Room

Description
Bringing together scientists, educators, community leaders, and members, as well as subsistence hunters and gatherers to discuss scientific issues relevant to northwest Alaska, focusing on the impact of global warming on the lives of residents of arctic Alaska. This conference will highlight regional scientific efforts and traditional knowledge providing an interdisciplinary approach to scientific inquiry and resource management. In addition to scientific sessions, the conference will include several workshops addressing topics relevant to life in northwest Alaska.

Sarah's talk called Film as a Means of Documentation is April 24th at 3:10pm.
Effects of Weather and Climate on Subsistence Communities showing is April 25th at 4:15pm.

For more information go to:
March 15th-22nd, 2014
Arctic Winter Games Film Festival
Pioneer Park Theatre
2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99701
Monday, 3/17 - Tuesday, 3/18
Showing of Tradition in Tune will be at 5pm on Tuesday

For more information go to:
March 5th-8th, 2014                            
41st Annual Meeting of the Alaska Anthropological Association
Anthropology and Art
Wedgewood Resort, Fairbanks, Alaska

Film screenings on March 7th-8th from 9am-5pm will include
Effects of Weather and Climate on Subsistence Communities and Tradition in Tune.

Check out this website for more information:

March 1st, 2014