Smokin' Fish

A Chat With One of the Smokin’ Fish Filmmakers

By Kelly KoepkeSmokin’ Fish tells the story of Cory Mann, a Tlingit entrepreneur who decides to spend a summer at his family’s fish camp in Alaska. Reconnecting with his roots proves challenging, enlightening, and more than a little bit humorous at times—the film’s vignettes explore Tlingit culture as well as the simplest truths of family life. Smokin’ Fish has been selected as the closing film of the Native Cinema Showcase, which takes place in Santa Fe concurrent with the Santa Fe Indian Market. We spoke with the film’s producer and co-director, Luke Griswold-Tergis about this insider view of Tlingit culture and personal history.

Indian Country Today Media Network:  Can you tell us about the film and how it became reality?

Luke Griswold-Tergis:  It’s the story of Cory Mann going up to his family’s fish camp. He spends the summer smoking fish while trying to run a business. It’s about the demands of the modern world and how they intersect with a traditional way of life in the fish camp.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Documentaries and News.