The Weight of a Feather

Wednesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. and Thursday, March 9 at 3 p.m.

All PBS members can stream the film here.

“The Weight of a Feather” explores how wildlife connects people, nature and cultures. This film was made possible by the Rob & Melani Walton Foundation with additional support from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and highlights the Liberty Wildlife Non-Eagle Feather Repository, which provides feathers for Native Americans for religious and ceremonial purposes.

“The Weight of a Feather,” narrated by Peter Coyote, enjoys its broadcast premiere on Arizona PBS, Channel 8 Wednesday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. In addition to its broadcast schedule, “The Weight of a Feather” will also be available for streaming to Arizona PBS members via Passport and the PBS app. Arizona PBS reaches 80 percent of all households in Arizona and amplifies diverse stories that weave the fabric of our community.

Arizona PBS is airing “The Weight of a Feather” as part of its annual pledge drive to celebrate community partnership. Viewers who select “The Weight of a Feather” when they support Arizona PBS can select gifts including a plush toy and a behind the scenes tour.

“As one of Arizona’s leading storytellers, we are proud to amplify the unique stories that make the Grand Canyon State such a special place to call home,” said Arizona PBS General manager Adrienne R. Fairwell. “Liberty Wildlife’s story certainly fits that mold, and we’re excited to share it with our loyal viewers in the weeks ahead.”

Liberty Wildlife is a wildlife rehabilitation, education and conservation center in Phoenix that teaches appreciation and works for the preservation of wildlife and nature, through partnerships with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, SRP, APS, The Peregrine Fund and Verde Canyon Railroad. “The Weight of a Feather” features Tony Duncan, World Champion Hoop Dancer, Allen King, CAO of Sunrise Native Recovery, and was filmed in Arizona with a focus on the urban wildlife around Tempe Town Lake and The Rio Salado.

Executive Producers Melani Walton and Rob Walton recognized the profound impact the Liberty Wildlife Non-Eagle Feather Repository has in preserving Native American cultural identity. They felt a documentary would be a powerful way to share how the organization impacts wildlife and humans. “We are proud to support Liberty Wildlife’s work to protect nature and preserve indigenous cultures by honoring their stories and supporting their religious and ceremonial traditions through the Non-Eagle Feather Repository,” said Melani Walton, Co-Founder of the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation. “‘The Weight of a Feather’ is the story of how nature, people and culture are linked, and we hope that this inspires viewers to reflect on their own connection to the environment and how they can protect the planet.”

“The Weight of a Feather” program was also made possible by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. “Piper Trust commends Liberty Wildlife for bringing this story of significant cultural importance to the forefront. This film will foster new and vital understanding about indigenous peoples and their contributions to quality of life for all,” said Mary Jane Rynd, president and CEO of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. “Storytelling like this is a powerful way to bring people together and strengthen our community for the long term.”

The Arizona PBS broadcast is also supported by The Weese Foundation in Arizona.

After the premiere, Wednesday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m., repeat broadcasts will occur on 8.1 Thursday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, March 5 at 10:30 a.m. and Thursday, March 9 at 3:00 p.m. The film will also be broadcast on channel 8.2 Friday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 11 at 12:30 p.m. Finally, additional broadcasts will occur on channel 8.3 Thursday, March 2 at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, March 4 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m.

“The Weight of a Feather” is directed and written by Arizona Governor’s Arts Award-recipient Kristin Atwell Ford and produced by the Emmy® Award-winning team at Quantum Leap Productions.

Liberty Wildlife

Liberty Wildlife’s mission is to nurture the nature of Arizona through quality wildlife rehabilitation, natural history education and conservation services to the community.  Further, the Liberty Wildlife Non-Eagle Feather Repository program provides feathers to Native Americans in support of their cultures. Blending wildlife, nature and community is a goal of the organization. For more information, visit libertywildlife.org.

Arizona PBS

Arizona PBS is one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, with four broadcast channels and a growing array of digital platforms. A trusted community resource for 60 years, Arizona PBS fosters lifelong learning through quality programming, in-depth news coverage and critical educational outreach services. It is one of the country’s largest public television stations, reaching 80 percent of Arizona homes and 1.9 million households each week. Arizona PBS has been part of ASU since the station launched in 1961. Learn more at https://azpbs.org.

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County. For more information visit, pipertrust.org.

Quantum Leap Productions

Quantum Leap Productions provides custom communications and full-service video services. From brand stories and commercials to documentaries and feature films, we tell stories that make life more meaningful. For more information, visit qlpdigital.com. 

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