Living in Bear Country in a Time of Climate Change and Increased Tourism: Bears of Durango with Dr. Heather Johnson & CJ Brafford
Friday March 7, 2025 @ 7pm
The Wright Opera House | Ouray, Colorado
Black bears are major players in the ecosystems of southwest Colorado, but their presence has been complicated by a range of factors including climate change and expanding human presence across the state. To better understand the vital role of bears in our region, the Ouray International Film Festival invites you to a special screening of Bears of Durango. The film features bear scientist Dr. Heather Johnson who will be traveling to Ouray from Anchorage, Alaska for this special screening; Dr. Johnson will be joined by CJ Brafford, Director of the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, Colorado. The conversation will be moderated by OIFF co-director Dr. Jacob Abell.
This special event is part of OIFF’s partnership with Science on Screen®, an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
FILM: Bears of Durango | 58 Minutes | Directed by Dusty Hulet
GUESTS IN PERSON:
Dr. Heather Johnson. Heather Johnson is a Research Wildlife Biologist at the USGS Alaska Science Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Heather has a PhD in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana, a MS in Wildlife Science from the University of Arizona, and a BS in Ecology from the University of California, San Diego. Her research spans various topics related to large mammal ecology including behavior, population dynamics, human-wildlife conflicts, responses to climate- and anthropogenic-driven habitat change, and the effectiveness of management strategies. Prior to working for the USGS, Heather conducted research for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Dr. Johnson is traveling to Ouray from Anchorage for this special Science on Screen event.
CJ Brafford. CJ Brafford, a member of the Lakota Oglala Sioux Tribe, is the Director of the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, Colorado. Brafford has made key contributions at the state and national level on preserving Indigenous history and educating audiences. In 2004, she took part in the Native Nations Procession, a key event leading up to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s opening ceremony in Washington, D.C. In 2018, she was honored with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service and, in 2022, she received the Colorado Women’s Day “Spirit” Award for her efforts in safeguarding and promoting Colorado’s Native American traditions and culture. In 2023, CJ joined our film festival at the Wright Opera House and Ouray School where she addressed students and community members about the history of the Ute peoples in Colorado. We are thrilled to welcome CJ Brafford back to Ouray for this screening.
Dr. Jacob Abell. Abell, co-director of the Ouray International Film Festival, will be moderating the night’s discussion and Q&A.
Dr. Heather Johnson - Wildlife Biologist
CJ Brafford - Director of the Ute Indian Musuem
Dr. Jacob Abell - Festival Co-Director