Davis a key speaker at film viewing

Pictured from left to right are Virginia Berumen and her sister, members of the Squaxin Island Tribe of Washington State. Also pictured are the Minister of the Mud Bay Shaker Indian Church Rose Davis, Oklahoma Choctaw tribal elder, Tom E. Davis and Heather Pilder Olson, producer of the River. Davis was one of the key speakers and spoke about “Perspective and Compassion, via Thích Nhat Hanh” to the Aberdeen, Washington City Council and others in attendance. Film producer Heather Pilder Olson of Seattle, Washington, invited Davis, Rose and Virginia to view the documentary on April 29, 2022, at the Bishop Center, located on the campus of Grays Harbor Community College, Aberdeen, Washington.

Davis presently lives within Grays Harbor County, Washington and is semi-retired. He graduated from the class of 1967 Talihina High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He recalls the Talihina Tigers winning the Oklahoma 1966 Class B State Football Champion. This honor was shared with two of his brothers, Floyd Gene Davis and Kenny “Muggs” Davis and the Wards, McBrides, Thompsons, et al.

The River is a documentary about how communication and purpose play into the success and failures of managing the homeless encampment in Aberdeen, Washington. Director Rick Walters, a 14-year US Army veteran, will go to The River to live with and talk with the displaced inhabitants and search for meaning in their experience and catharsis for his own battles with addiction and security.

The film looks closely at the ways local government, the media, and the general population identify the problem, and how they communicate about it.

The film shows how purpose drives the City Council, the police, social services, and the wide variety of people who live at The River.

Currently, around 100-150 people live homeless at The River Camp. Grays Harbor County has some of the highest per capita rates of homelessness, unemployment, poverty, and addiction in Washington State and faces unique challenges with a homeless population that includes many young veterans, people dealing with addiction and mental illness, as well as Native Americans. The City Council voted recently to sweep the tent community, and film producers to document the sweep, as well as the community’s response.

“We plan to include the voices and stories of those living homeless, as well as commentary from city government, business owners, police, the Quinault Tribe, and the social service agencies working to help the homeless.”

The River is produced by Heather Pilder Olson, Andrew Tribolini and TJ Walker. For questions or for more information, contact Heather Pilder Olson at [email protected] or 206-734-6975.