The 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

This powerful documentary explores the devastating effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, one of the worst environmental disasters in history. Through personal interviews and firsthand accounts, the film captures the shock, sorrow, and lasting consequences faced by Alaskan communities.

Local residents recall the immediate aftermath—oil washing up on the shores of Prince William Sound, wildlife struggling to survive, and the overwhelming effort to clean the spill. Many describe the economic hardships, as fishing families were forced to shift from their livelihoods to oil cleanup work. Others share how herring populations have still not fully recovered, leaving a lasting impact on the ecosystem.

The film also highlights the human resilience that emerged from tragedy. Community members stepped up to protect their land, waters, and way of life. Even decades later, traces of oil remain buried beneath the rocks, serving as a haunting reminder of the disaster.

With raw storytelling and emotional reflections, this film sheds light on how one catastrophic event changed Alaska forever and the ongoing fight to restore and protect its waters.

Classroom Guide

Resources

Prince Willian Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council

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.