Movies are #GreaterOutdoors - Expedition Reclamation

101 Westlake Avenue North,Seattle WA 98109

25 June, 2022

Description

Merrell exists to share the simple power of being outside and we are looking to double down on that mission during Great Outdoors Month in Seattle to show that your movie night could take place under the stars, your work from home office could be a picnic table at Myrtle Edwards, or your dining room could be the lawn at Denny Park. Come early and participate in our fun, engaging and educational outdoor expo all day starting at 11am... all for free! Click here for all our amazing June events and RSVP!Expedition Reclamation by The Brave Space ProjectWe are thrilled to partner with The Brave Space Project to offer a free screening of their film Expedition Reclamation along with a panel discussion with those behind the film including Samara Almonte, Kaja Ralston and Elisa Lopez! Expedition Reclamation is a short documentary seeking to redefine “outdoorsy” and reclaim belonging in the outdoors for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color by highlighting their joyful, resilient, & transformative relationships to outdoor recreation. Just show up or RSVP to be entered into an exclusive raffle! Seating will be available on the open lawn space so bring a blanket and lawn chair, maybe a picnic and cooler and set yourself up for a great time under the open sky. About The Brave Space ProjectThe Brave Space Project is a multi-racial, women-led, radically collaborative creative team seeking to decolonize outdoor culture both in front of and behind the lens. Championing traditionally underrepresented voices, their work seeks to amplify character-driven stories that heal our human relationships to each other and to our planet, with a focus on socioecological justice, ancestral knowledge, regeneration, and compassionate living. Click here to learn more about The Brave Space Project About Expedition ReclamationExpedition Reclamation weaves together a tapestry of voices from 12 Black, Indigenous, and women of color who are redefining “outdoorsy” and reclaiming belonging in outdoor culture. This story begins with an honest exploration of how BIPOC communities have always been connected to the land, but how through the lasting lineage of colonialism, spaces of outdoor recreation have systematically excluded them. Our first chapter, “Homesick”, sees our characters reckoning with the reality of colonialism breaking ties to land. Moving into chapter two, “Expedition”, we see our characters rising up to reconnect with the outdoors and with their own roots. In “Reclamation” we revel in the stoke of finding belonging in the outdoors through resilience, healing, and joy. Finally, in “To The Trees,” we hear our characters’ dreams for an inclusive outdoor culture. Emerging from these interwoven experiences is a rally cry to the outdoor industry: to re-examine our understanding of the history of outdoor spaces, to commit to what inclusion really looks like in practice, and to create a better outdoor culture – one that empowers every individual to reach their fullest potential as humans and stewards of this planet and her people. About Samara AlmonteSamara Almonte (she/her) is part of the Michoacan diaspora, raised between the lakes and tierra caliente regions of Michoacan and occupied Coast Salish territory or the Pacific Northwest. Samara identifies as a P’urhepecha descendant reconnecting with her ancestors, which has greatly influenced her work as storyteller and community developer. She grounds her work in a decolonial framework that uplifts Black and Indigenous self-determination. Samara is a WWU alum, with a B.A in Urban Planning and Sustainability Development, with a specialization in Environmental Justice and Education. Samara is also the executive director of Raíces Verdes, a multimedia platform dedicated to validating, archiving and sharing the experiences of racialized peoples reconnecting with their “green roots”. Green roots are defined as our ancestral connection to the earth that embodies our relationships with all living and spiritual beings. About Kaja RalstonKaja Ralston (she/her) is a mixed first-generation American Afro-Latina and an outdoor enthusiast and adventurer. Born and raised in San Diego to two immigrants – one from the Caribbean and the other from Central America – she constantly found herself at the intersection of the richness of her family cultures and the culture of her hometown. Her early connection to nature specifically with the ocean helped shape her identity, and cultivated a sense of belonging and confidence in the outdoors that she brought with her to the Pacific Northwest. She holds a BA in Intercultural Studies with a minor in Visual Communications. She aspires to become more of a storyteller and a lifelong learner of outdoor sports so she can share this sense of belonging, joy, and connection in nature with the next generation especially Black, Brown, and Indigenous women. Most days you will find her spending quality time with her husband and German Shepherd puppy either outside in nature or with family. About Elisa LopezElisa Lopez’s (she/her) passion for the natural world started at a young age surrounded by orchards. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and began nourishing her connection to the outdoors as well as helping others build their connection in 2018. Through her work with Team Naturaleza, Elisa is creating a space where the Hispanic/Latinx community can gather, learn about the environment bilingually, and create positive memories outside. Elisa’s favorite outdoor activities are paddle boarding, revisiting sites and noticing changes, and birding. Support Big Brothers Big Sisters of AmericaMerrell is big supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and our Great Outdoors Month events will help support this great organization. If you are able, you can donate to BBBS through the donation ticket and Merrell will match your donation up to $1,000! Click here to learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Land AcknowledgmentMerrell and The Brave Space Project acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.