Independent Project

The Owyhee Project

'The Owyhee Project' is an oral history collaboration between Northern Paiute elder Wilson Wewa and photographer/filmmaker Jason Houston funded by a special grant to raise awareness of threatened protected areas during the 2016-2020 Trump presidency.

This short film records Wilson’s reflections on growing up visiting the Owyhee Canyonlands in what is now southeastern Oregon, and their importance to him, his people, and as an essential wild place for all of us.

A preview screened during a 500 person webinar hosted by the Oregon Natural Desert Association and the project premiered at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in 2021. It is also being actively used in classrooms and by organizations raising awareness of the Owyhee’s unique landscape.

Jason: Director, producer, cinematographer, editor