(Riverton, WY) – Wyoming PBS is broadcasting an encore presentation of ‘Who She Is,’ Tuesday, March 18, at 7 PM.
“WY PBS is honored to share an encore of Who She Is, a powerful film that brings awareness to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW),” the release from the filmmakers states.
“Directed by Jordan Dresser (Northern Arapaho) and Sophie Barksdale, this documentary highlights personal stories and the urgent need for systemic change. The film aligns with important policy initiatives like the recently signed Missing Persons Reporting Requirements Bill (SF0114), which strengthens law enforcement coordination and ensures missing persons reports are handled effectively. Advocates emphasize that policies like SF0114 and the Ashanti Alert Act are critical in addressing the MMIW crisis and improving protections for all missing persons.”
“Since screening ‘Who She Is’ to the Wind River community in September 2022, the film has been through a Wyoming screening tour, supported by the Wyoming Humanities Council and the Wyoming Council for Women,” the release continues.
The film has since been on a full National Film Festival Circuit, where it has picked up the following accolades:
- Best Social Justice Film at the Latino and Native American Film Fest.
- Best Animated Doc at the Oregon Documentary Film festival.
- Best Documentary at the Flagstaff Film Festival.
- The film had its UK premiere in October 2023 at a London Film Festival and closed out its festival run in Vancouver Canada in 2024.
- The film was picked up for National Distribution through Vision Maker Media, premiering on WORLD CHANNEL in May 2024 and broadcasting throughout the United States.
Co-Director Jordan Dresser shared the following about the film.
“When we came up with the idea of “Who She Is”, I wanted to honestly portray and humanize the MMIW stories that were swirling in my Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho community in Wyoming. For me these stories of violence against Indigenous women and men were sadly not new and have been a consistent narrative in Indian Country since First Contact.”
Co-Director Sophie Barksdale had this to say.
“Laws like The Missing Persons Reporting Requirements Bill (SF0114) and the Ashanti Alert Act are crucial steps toward addressing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. For far too long, families have faced barrier after barrier when reporting their loved ones missing, leading to delays that can mean the difference between life and death. Action at both the state and federal levels helps ensure change where cases are taken seriously, resources are used effectively, and no one is forgotten. Our film, “Who She Is”, amplifies these stories, but real change happens when policies reflect the urgency of this issue.”
You can learn more about the documentary here.