Sea Cucumbers
This engaging student-made documentary dives into the curious world of sea cucumbers—those slow-moving, brainless bottom-dwellers that play a surprisingly vital role in ocean ecosystems. Known as the “vultures of the sea,” sea cucumbers clean up the ocean floor by consuming dead organic matter. The film explores their fascinating defense mechanisms (yes, they can expel their organs!) and their unexpected value in global cuisine, particularly in Asian markets. Through interviews and research, the filmmaker uncovers how these peculiar creatures support commercial fisheries in Alaska and provides insight into the region’s underwater biodiversity. Both educational and delightfully quirky, this film gives sea cucumbers the spotlight they never knew they deserved.
Classroom Guide
Workshop Info
See Stories led film workshops with youth in six Prince William sound communities in 2016 (Cordova, Whittier, Nanwalek, Tatitlek, Valdez, and Chenega Bay) with generous funding and support from the Prince William Sound Science Center (PWSSC). The PWSSC wanted to support youth to create films on their communities' profound and changing relationship to the ocean 25 years after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS). The films created during these workshops focus primarily on vibrant cultural and personal connections to water, and some of them explore the tragedy of EVOS and the long-standing impacts that ripple through to the present moment.
More videos from this workshop:
Fish Migration
This educational short film dives into the fascinating world of fish migration, told through the eyes of a young learner […]
Geography of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Set in the coastal village of Nanwalek during the aftermath of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, this powerful short […]
Gus Robert Ukatish S.R: Reflections on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
In this heartfelt documentary, Gus Robert Ka Sr., a lifelong resident and Nanwalek, reflects on the long-term impacts of the […]
Hatchery
This student film explores the vital role of hatcheries in Valdez, Alaska, and their impact on the local economy, environment, […]
Honoring the Water
This gripping student-made film blends personal storytelling with critical safety advice, focusing on boating in Alaska’s unpredictable waters. Centered around […]
Exxon Oil Spill by Irene Tanape
In this powerful oral history, a lifelong Alaska Native resident recounts their firsthand experience cleaning up the coastline after the […]
Boating Safety by Malia Kamauoha
In this informative film, a student tackles the crucial topic of boating safety, a matter of life and death in […]
Marine Food Web
In this educational and engaging short film, a student explores the marine food web of Valdez, Alaska, starting with a […]
Marine Subsistence in Chenega Bay
Eleven-year-old Chloe Gaul shares her love for fishing, hunting, and living off the land in the remote village of Chignik […]
The Hatchery
This film highlights the crucial role of salmon hatcheries in Valdez, Alaska, emphasizing their impact on both the economy and […]
Oil Spills and Fisheries
This documentary explores the devastating effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill on Alaska’s commercial fisheries, particularly in Prince […]
Reginal Citizens’ Advisory Council
This student-led documentary sheds light on the vital but often overlooked work of the Regional Citizens Advisory Council (RCAC), a […]
Land Acknowledgement
This video was filmed on Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) Land. Learn more about land acknowledgements at native-land.ca.