"Shaaghan Neekwaii: Two Old Women" to have North American Premiere at Anchorage Film Festival

Deenaadàį’ Productions proudly announces the upcoming release of Shaaghan Neekwaii: Two Old Women, a groundbreaking short film and the first-ever screen adaptation of Velma Wallis’s acclaimed 1993 novel, Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage, and Survival. Told entirely in the Gwich’in language, the film marks a historic milestone in Indigenous cinema and cultural preservation.

Shaaghan Neekwaii: Two Old Women will have its Alaska premiere at the Anchorage Film Festival on December 13 at 3pm as part of the Native Voices shorts block. The festival takes place December 4–15, 2025.

Directed by Princess Daazhraii Johnson (Neets’aii Gwich'in), the film stars Margaret Henry John and Brenda K. Newman as Sa’ and Ch'idzigyaak—two elderly women cast out by their starving community who must rely on ancestral knowledge and each other to survive the brutal Alaskan wilderness. Chief Galen Gilbert of Vashraii K’oo, Alaska, appears as Chief Dajalti’.

Produced by Taa’aii Peter, Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Jason Ryle, and Heather Rae, with executive producers Beverly Morris, Jodi Archambault, and Tracy Rector, the film was shot in and around Fairbanks both at Borealis Basecamp and at Gather, a community social space in downtown Fairbanks.

“We have a profound and powerful legacy of storytelling among the Gwich’in nation,” says producer Taa’aii Peter. “Our stories capture and reflect the legends, values, and worldview that have shaped thousands of years of survival in the Arctic for our people. It is time to share some of this magic with the world.”

This adaptation contributes to the revitalization of the Gwich’in language, the protection of the Gwich’in way of life, and the celebration of a nation that spans northeast Alaska and northwest Canada. Johnson’s film, made in close collaboration with the Gwich’in community, offers a powerful platform for cultural preservation and storytelling.

Says director Princess Daazhrali Johnson, “Working on this film with my community has been a profound experience in that we all have had to delve deeper into both our Gwich’in language and culture, our relationships with one another and also challenge ourselves to embark on this medium of film. It’s an incredibly timely story as it underscores the uncertainty of the times we are living in, but ultimately reminds us that we all need one another to survive.”

The production team includes many Alaskan locals, notably director Princess Daazhraii Johnson and Taa’aii Peter, an advocate of Indigenous knowledge, languages, and rights.

Shaaghan Neekwaii: Two Old Women is both a beautiful achievement in film, but also a tribute to the enduring spirit of the Gwich’in people.

Film Synopsis:

Set in a time before colonization, Shaaghan Neekwaii: Two Old Women follows Ch’idzigyaak and Sa’, two Gwich’in elders abandoned by their tribe during a harsh winter. With only their clothing, a few belongings, and each other, they must draw upon survival skills taught in their youth—skills long dormant but never forgotten. As they hunt, build tools, and navigate the land, they confront the pain of betrayal and rediscover their strength, wisdom, and dignity. The film is a testament to the power of Indigenous knowledge, narrative sovereignty, intergenerational resilience, and the sacred role of elders in community survival.

About the Director:

Princess Daazhraii Johnson (Neets’aii Gwich'in) is a Peabody award-winning and Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and director living on the traditional territory of the lower Tanana Dene lands in Alaska. She is a Sundance Film Alum and served as Creative Producer for the PBS Kids series Molly of Denali. Her short film Gath & K'iyh: Listen to Heal (featuring Yo-Yo Ma) has screened at over 25 film festivals worldwide. Johnson was appointed by President Obama in 2015 to the Board of Trustees for the Institute of American Indian Arts and has served on the SAG-AFTRA Native American Committee since 2007. Most recently, she was a producer on HBO’s Emmy-winning fourth season of True Detective and is currently developing her first feature film, Two Old Women.