The powerful waters of the Colorado River rushed into the IMAX Theater in the Indiana State Museum on Friday, Sept. 26, with the opening of “Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk” in stunning 3D. Hoosiers were invited to come aboard this thrilling river-rafting journey with world-renowned river advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., author/anthropologist/ explorer Wade Davis and National Park Ranger and river guide Shana Watahomigie. The dramatic film explores the growing need to preserve our planet’s fresh-water supply and encourages audiences to do their part to conserve.

To demonstrate the connection and importance of all rivers Shana Watahomigie and her daughter Cree traveled to Indianapolis to open Grand Canyon Adventure River At Risk 3D and to conduct a river bridging ceremony. Shana brought with her a gallon of the Colorado River and then retrieved a gallon of the White River in Indianapolis.

In a ceremony sponsored by the Hoosier Environmental Council and supported by River Keepers Alliance, The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Hoosier Canoe Club and several conservationists along with WFYI radio/TV, WIBC radio, VIZMO films, The Indianapolis Star, The White River State Park and City of Indianapolis Shana symbolically bridged The Colorado and White Rivers. By dipping her hands into two separate buckets containing water from the two rivers Shana then joined hands with conservationists who formed a ring of support for water conservation and forever connected the two rivers. The ceremony is to demonstrate that all rivers are important and need our help.

Watahomigie, a member of the Havasupai tribe, is the first Native American to become a National Park Ranger and river guide in the Grand Canyon. She leads the group in this G-rated film, produced by McGillivray Freeman.

A 3 minute 15 second video (see below) was produced by Indianapolis based film maker Dan T. Hall as a brief documentary of the river bridging ceremony.

Dave Brown, Theater Director at the IMAX Theater in the State Museum encourages everyone to see the short video of the ceremony and Grand Canyon River At Risk 3D to fully appreciate the emotion and support demonstrated in the river bridging ceremony.