‘Black Gold Boom’ on PBS

Some Native American tribes have banned fracking on tribal lands. With vast deposits of oil underneath its borders, Three Affiliated Tribes is at a crossroads. Should the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation in western North Dakota drill for black gold or outlaw oil exploration on its land? Tribal member Marty Young Bear worries about environmental effects. Meanwhile, local leaders rush to form a tribal-owned oil company with the motto “Sovereignty by the Barrel.”

The documentary, directed by Todd Melby, has aired on PBS World Channel (155 stations nationwide), Prairie Public, Alaska Public Media, TPT (Twin Cities PBS), New Mexico PBS, Wyoming PBS, WOSU Ohio, Colorado Public Television, KEDT (South Texas), KVIE (Sacramento, California) and WDSC (Daytona Beach, Florida).

Press coverage:
MPR News
South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Midwest Energy News
TPT Almanac (begins at 23:15)

Marty Young Bear
Marty Young Bear opposes oil exploration.

Ken Hall
Ken Hall is bullish on the boom.

Elsie Ejismekwu
Elsie Ejismekwu moved to North Dakota to get a fresh start.

IMG_0439
Jennifer and Lawrence move to North Dakota with their mother, Elsie.

Jason Baker
Jason Baker (left) returned home to start an oilfield services company.

Partners:
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Independent Television Service
North Dakota Humanities Council
Prairie Public
AIR

Author Bio