Sacred Earth: Guardians of Water
Santa Clarita, California | Film Short
Documentary
This is the most important thing you can do right now – to help our environment so future generations can thrive. WATER is calling out through Hopi and Navajo people, who strive to protect it on their tribal lands in N.E. Arizona after damages from coal-mining and disputes over sacred water sites.
Sacred Earth: Guardians of Water
Santa Clarita, California | Film Short
Documentary
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $1,640 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
19 supporters | followers
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This is the most important thing you can do right now – to help our environment so future generations can thrive. WATER is calling out through Hopi and Navajo people, who strive to protect it on their tribal lands in N.E. Arizona after damages from coal-mining and disputes over sacred water sites.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
It's Your Turn to Save Earth's Water!
The most important thing you can do right now is become part of the solution to help protect our planet so that we all have a future.
We at Alpha Films invite you to support "Sacred Earth: Guardians of Water," an urgent documentary about the Navajo and Hopi peoples' fight to protect water on their Native lands in N.E. Arizona – a struggle of global significance. Your tax-deductible donation to our Seed&Spark fundraising campaign will help us complete this pivotal and timely film: seedandspark.com/fund/sacred-earth-guardians-of-water-documentary
Follow our campaign launch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Sacred-Earth-movie-61575254727256/
Photos by Laura L.C. Carlson - on Black Mesa, NE Arizona
Water hauling near Hard Rock on Black Mesa.
This a true story based on Indigenous wisdom – and shows how Native communities mobilized to defend their groundwater from abuse. As climate threats intensify, "Sacred Earth: Guardians of Water" is a wake-up call for us all. The Navajo and Hopi peoples' main drinking water source was severely compromised during strip-mining operations.
Their battle of wills now extends to reclaiming the land damaged by the mining operations and protecting water at a sacred ceremonial site. It's not just about one region – it's also an indicator of a world where water is becoming increasingly threatened: More than 25% of our world's populations live in water-stressed areas.
Why support this film?
Why us? Alpha Films is an independent production company devoted to telling stories that matter. We've been working on this project since 2021 with the support of Indigenous leaders and environmental allies.
Why this story? It uplifts the voices that have long been quieted, while confronting the environmental injustice still unfolding on Native lands!
Why now? The U.S. administration is considering new copper mining projects on Native lands, threatening to repeat history! Meanwhile, a most sacred site (Sipaapu) and water source at the confluence of the Little Colorado River is at risk of drying up.
Why your donation matters? Your donation is tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, the International Documentary Association. The earlier you make a donation, the greater impact it can make – it will encourage more donations.
We're nearing the finish line. Production is almost complete and we're now moving into editing. With your support, we aim to finish our rough cuts by
end of this year, and complete the final cut in early 2026.
Here's an overview of where the funds would go to continue on this project:
This urgent story about protecting water will raise
awareness so that future generations will continue to
have the resources needed for survival.
The "Sacred Earth" fundraiser campaign connects with
the sustainability of our planet.
Help us raise awareness of the urgency to protect water through
this documentary "Sacred Earth: Guardians of Water."
Thank you!
Laura
NOTE: Your donation is tax-deductible! SACRED EARTH is a fiscally sponsored project of the International Documentary Association (IDA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Contributions in support of SACRED EARTH are payable to IDA and are tax-deductible, less the value of any goods or services received, as allowed by law. The value of goods and services offered is noted under each donation level.
L aura Carlson (at right) asks for your support to help raise awareness of the
Hopi and Dine tribes' efforts to protect water. They were the "First People" and the
wisdom they share in this film is essential.
Nicole Horseherder (shown above), serves as Exec. Director of
the grassroots organization (To Nizhoni Ani). She is shown on
Navajo Nation lands in March 2025.
Nicole has served as one of the original "guardians of water" for
more than 25 years. During a wintertime videoshoot near Big
Mountain on Black Mesa in temperatures falling below 39
degrees, she revels in the gift of a passing snowstorm.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Videography & sound
Costs $500
This is to pay for only a very a small percentage of the videography and sound needed for this documentary.
Additional videography (B-roll)
Costs $300
To record the people who are deeply involved in the effort to protect water and to give a sense of where they live on sovereign lands.
Travel portion - on location - one time
Costs $200
Travel for one crew member
Some post-production / editing
Costs $250
This is a contribution for a very small portion of the editing needed.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our team consists of diverse professionals, including indigenous people, who appear both in front of the camera (and behind the scenes). The crew and contributors include highly-regarded videographers, film editors, colorists, sound technicians, and more from Arizona, New Mexico and California. Here are some of our crew members, named below:
Orlando Skidmore - Cinematographer. Orlando is a multi-talented Native American cinematographer, director & creative producer. He is known for dozens of short films and TV series, among which are "Made for Her: A Love of Native Couture" (2025), "Soul Mates" (2023) and "Pollo Loco" (2023).
He has won eight film festival awards over the past few years.
Todd Eric Valcourt - Editor. For nearly a decade, Todd has been running an independent film and music company (Double Take Entertainment Group), producing SAG signatory short films.
Brad Stoddard - Finishing Editor and Colorist. An award-winning filmmaker, writer and cinematographer, Brad has delved into feature film, TV and documentary projects. He runs Stoddard Communications, production/post-production company in New Mexico.
Andrea McCracken - Cinematographer. With almost a decade of film and media production experience, Andrea has written, produced, and directed narrative films, commercials, and branded content for local and international clients such as Canon USA, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. She serves as Founder and Creative Director of Arizona-based Rollcrew Media.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
It's Your Turn to Save Earth's Water!
The most important thing you can do right now is become part of the solution to help protect our planet so that we all have a future.
We at Alpha Films invite you to support "Sacred Earth: Guardians of Water," an urgent documentary about the Navajo and Hopi peoples' fight to protect water on their Native lands in N.E. Arizona – a struggle of global significance. Your tax-deductible donation to our Seed&Spark fundraising campaign will help us complete this pivotal and timely film: seedandspark.com/fund/sacred-earth-guardians-of-water-documentary
Follow our campaign launch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Sacred-Earth-movie-61575254727256/
Photos by Laura L.C. Carlson - on Black Mesa, NE Arizona
Water hauling near Hard Rock on Black Mesa.
This a true story based on Indigenous wisdom – and shows how Native communities mobilized to defend their groundwater from abuse. As climate threats intensify, "Sacred Earth: Guardians of Water" is a wake-up call for us all. The Navajo and Hopi peoples' main drinking water source was severely compromised during strip-mining operations.
Their battle of wills now extends to reclaiming the land damaged by the mining operations and protecting water at a sacred ceremonial site. It's not just about one region – it's also an indicator of a world where water is becoming increasingly threatened: More than 25% of our world's populations live in water-stressed areas.
Why support this film?
Why us? Alpha Films is an independent production company devoted to telling stories that matter. We've been working on this project since 2021 with the support of Indigenous leaders and environmental allies.
Why this story? It uplifts the voices that have long been quieted, while confronting the environmental injustice still unfolding on Native lands!
Why now? The U.S. administration is considering new copper mining projects on Native lands, threatening to repeat history! Meanwhile, a most sacred site (Sipaapu) and water source at the confluence of the Little Colorado River is at risk of drying up.
Why your donation matters? Your donation is tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, the International Documentary Association. The earlier you make a donation, the greater impact it can make – it will encourage more donations.
We're nearing the finish line. Production is almost complete and we're now moving into editing. With your support, we aim to finish our rough cuts by
end of this year, and complete the final cut in early 2026.
Here's an overview of where the funds would go to continue on this project:
This urgent story about protecting water will raise
awareness so that future generations will continue to
have the resources needed for survival.
The "Sacred Earth" fundraiser campaign connects with
the sustainability of our planet.
Help us raise awareness of the urgency to protect water through
this documentary "Sacred Earth: Guardians of Water."
Thank you!
Laura
NOTE: Your donation is tax-deductible! SACRED EARTH is a fiscally sponsored project of the International Documentary Association (IDA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Contributions in support of SACRED EARTH are payable to IDA and are tax-deductible, less the value of any goods or services received, as allowed by law. The value of goods and services offered is noted under each donation level.
L aura Carlson (at right) asks for your support to help raise awareness of the
Hopi and Dine tribes' efforts to protect water. They were the "First People" and the
wisdom they share in this film is essential.
Nicole Horseherder (shown above), serves as Exec. Director of
the grassroots organization (To Nizhoni Ani). She is shown on
Navajo Nation lands in March 2025.
Nicole has served as one of the original "guardians of water" for
more than 25 years. During a wintertime videoshoot near Big
Mountain on Black Mesa in temperatures falling below 39
degrees, she revels in the gift of a passing snowstorm.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Videography & sound
Costs $500
This is to pay for only a very a small percentage of the videography and sound needed for this documentary.
Additional videography (B-roll)
Costs $300
To record the people who are deeply involved in the effort to protect water and to give a sense of where they live on sovereign lands.
Travel portion - on location - one time
Costs $200
Travel for one crew member
Some post-production / editing
Costs $250
This is a contribution for a very small portion of the editing needed.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our team consists of diverse professionals, including indigenous people, who appear both in front of the camera (and behind the scenes). The crew and contributors include highly-regarded videographers, film editors, colorists, sound technicians, and more from Arizona, New Mexico and California. Here are some of our crew members, named below:
Orlando Skidmore - Cinematographer. Orlando is a multi-talented Native American cinematographer, director & creative producer. He is known for dozens of short films and TV series, among which are "Made for Her: A Love of Native Couture" (2025), "Soul Mates" (2023) and "Pollo Loco" (2023).
He has won eight film festival awards over the past few years.
Todd Eric Valcourt - Editor. For nearly a decade, Todd has been running an independent film and music company (Double Take Entertainment Group), producing SAG signatory short films.
Brad Stoddard - Finishing Editor and Colorist. An award-winning filmmaker, writer and cinematographer, Brad has delved into feature film, TV and documentary projects. He runs Stoddard Communications, production/post-production company in New Mexico.
Andrea McCracken - Cinematographer. With almost a decade of film and media production experience, Andrea has written, produced, and directed narrative films, commercials, and branded content for local and international clients such as Canon USA, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. She serves as Founder and Creative Director of Arizona-based Rollcrew Media.