We Are Guardians

See this powerful new environmental doc at the Circle starting Fri 6/20! Special opening night Q&A screening Fri 6/20, beginning with a 5:30p reception in the lobby followed by the film at 6:30p. The Q&A will feature Amber Morning Star Byars (Impact Strategist for the film / member of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) and Warren C. Queton (Kiowa Tribe Legislator / Kiowa, Seminole, & Cherokee) in conversation with Michelle Svenson (Tulsa Artist Fellowship Artistic Program Producer). Warren will also perform an opening and closing prayer with the event.

Select opening weekend showtimes on sale now, with additional daily showtimes coming soon.

1h25min - Doc - Not Rated - In English, Portuguese, and Tupi with subtitles

In the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, the Indigenous forest guardians stand at the frontlines of the fight to protect their ancestral lands from relentless invasions and deforestation. As more and more people illegally invade their lands each year, devastating centuries-old forests for resources and fast profits, these small groups of guardians risk everything to protect their forest and way of life. Now, as the health of the entire Amazon teeters at the edge, will Brazil and the world take notice?

We Are Guardians offers an intimate portrayal of the lives ensnared within this crisis, bringing a multitude of voices from this complex landscape to the forefront. Indigenous forest guardian Marçal Guajajara and Indigenous leader Puyr Tembé stand at the frontlines of this fight, risking everything to protect their ancestral lands and way of life from relentless invasions and deforestation. To them, the Amazon is not just home—it is life itself, worth every sacrifice to ensure its survival for future generations.

About the speakers
Amber Morning Star Byars: A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Amber Morning Star Byars is a multidisciplinary artist, lawyer, and Indigenous rights activist. Amber graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in 2018 with BFA in Indigenous Liberal Studies. She went on to receive her Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, graduating with two certificates in business law in 2022. In 2023, Amber founded Good Trade Productions, and has since provided impact production services for the two-time Emmy winning film "Lakota Nation vs United States" and the Academy Award nominated documentary, "Sugarcane". Amber currently serves as a cultural advisor for AMC Networks and was named one of DOC NYC’s New Leaders for 2024. Amber currently resides in her hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Warren C. Queton: Warren Queton, known as “P’aw Ah,” a Kiowa name meaning “The moon is coming,” proudly identifies as Kiowa, Cherokee, and Seminole. He is a lifelong advocate for education. Queton has devoted his professional pursuits to advancing educational opportunities for Native communities. He has held roles such as the Tribal Liaison Officer at the University of Oklahoma and the Director of Higher Education for the Kiowa Tribe. Elected to the Kiowa Legislature in 2022, Queton represents the citizens of District 7 with dedication and a deep commitment to his people. A veteran of the United States Army, he upholds the traditions of the Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society, embodying the values of service and honor central to his community. Beyond his public service, Queton has explored creative expression through acting. He earned recognition for his portrayal of “Clinton” in FX's critically acclaimed Reservation Dogs and now stars as “Uncle Ed” in the new series The Lowdown. Having relocated to the Tulsa Area in 2022 with his wife, Welana Fields Queton, and their beloved dog, Lettie Jane, Warren continues to engage with Native traditions, including singing native music and dance.