"In 1885, Moravian missionaries arrived in the Lower Kuskokwim and helped establish the town of Bethel. 'We of the River' chronicles their arrival and the emergence into the 20th century of the Yup'ik Eskimo people who have lived in this area for more than 12,000 years. "This program is the first video/film history of this corner of North America. It was produce from old films donated by many of the original pioneers. The Yukon/Kuskokwim Delta is still one of the most traditional areas in the U.S. Europeans came late to settle the North, when photography was already well established, these first settlers got the first 'film' look at a crucial transition period of a primitive people. "Because of the remoteness of the area and the recent introduction of television, most people had never seen moving pictures of their old villages and ancestors. Many community leaders came and reviewed these films, and helped with putting this local history together. There was a direct link between the footage and the people who helped to fashion the product, a true community effort."--1986 Peabody Awards entry form.
