Screening Information

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Start Time: 3:34 PM
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
Location: Beth Hebrew Synagogue
333 E. Portland St., Phoenix, AZ 85004

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Film Description

How We Survive Diomede offers an intimate look at the Iñupiat community of Little Diomede Island in the Bering Sea. For thousands of years, the people of Diomede have relied on the surrounding waters and their deep knowledge of the Arctic environment to survive in one of the harshest climates on Earth.

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Having endured blizzards, polar bears, colonization, and the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War, the community now faces its most daunting challenge yet—global climate change. The film explores how this resilient culture continues to adapt while asking an important question: can modern society learn from Indigenous knowledge before it is too late?

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Director:

Bjørn D. Olson is an Alaska-based filmmaker, photographer, and wilderness adventurer. Born in an abandoned trapper’s cabin in Interior Alaska, Olson has spent his life exploring remote regions of the state and documenting its landscapes and cultures. His work reflects a deep connection to Alaska’s wilderness and Indigenous communities, and often focuses on environmental issues and cultural resilience.