Whaledreamers, Saturday

The Visionary Edge screen Julian Lennon’s documentary Whaledreamers at the Johnson House Depot in Half Moon Bay, on Saturday October 11.  Whaledreamers has won more than 10 Best Film awards on the film festival circuit.

Whaledreamers -  the title alone evokes hypnotic visions of these most magnificent and ancient creatures. This visually stunning film offers an incredible glimpse into a rarely seen and scarcely understood tribal culture whose entire story of creation revolves around whales and has endured for centuries. The film passionately explores the connection between the subtle elegance of these "mothers of the sea" and ancient civilizations around the world whose culture and very existence is based on whales.

In 1998, eighty-five tribal leaders from around the world came together at Whale Rock on the Great Australian Bight in South Australia to share their traditions, stories and spirituality over a seven-day celebration of cultures and nature.

They were a remarkable group of leaders including Zulus, Cherokees, Maoris, and Colombian U’wa Indians, and Aboriginal tribes – the Pitjantjatjara, Yaluta and the Mirning people, (who claim to be the oldest tribe on earth).

Native elders from North America, New Zealand, Colombia, Canada and Indonesia joined the Mirning people to exchange ideas and share their ancient beliefs. They had traveled across the globe – from as far field as the Colombian jungles. They painted their bodies, danced and exchanged dialogue.

Every one had a story. Most were of environmental and economic threats that have pushed their cultures to the margins of mainstream society. Some were tales of fighting back – of taking on the ‘white men in business suits’ and winning.

This historical gathering of some of the world’s most threatened indigenous peoples was also a bold experiment connected with a species as endangered as those who took part – the whale. All the participants came from tribes and cultures that have some spiritual affiliation and communication with our largest mammals; and had a common purpose to record this momentous event.
 
Intertwining incredible underwater footage with ancient legend, Whaledreamers examines the complex past and the possibly dire future of human civilization.
 
Told with moving optimism and spiritual strength, it is a clarion call encouraging humanity’s reconnection to the profound beauty of the natural world and is an appeal to embrace all living beings, thereby creating the unity and peace which the Earth itself can bring.

Saturday, October 11th.  Doors will open at 7:00pm, film begins at 7:30.  Johnson House Depot,  110 Higgins Purisima, HMB.  Advance tickets $10, door $15. Call 650-560-0200 for information and reservations. 

Located in Half Moon Bay, The Visionary Edge produces events to inform and inspire us all to create a wiser, sustainable and more compassionate world.