EXPEDITION RECLAMATION is a first-of-its-kind documentary seeking to redefine “outdoorsy” and reclaim belonging in the outdoors for Black, Indigenous, and women of color. The film's twelve characters present counter-narratives to mainstream outdoor culture through a tapestry of stories woven together in celebration of resilience, belonging, and everyday connection to our natural world. They paddleboard, snowboard, climb, hike, snowshoe, and swim; they also sing, pray, forest bathe, heal, and thrive. In every activity and every instance, the women in this story show up boldly to redefine what it means to be “outdoorsy.”

Erin Joy Nash

Erin Joy Nash (she/her; co-producer, co-director, co-DP, co-editor) is a visual storyteller who aspires to bring empathy, brave vulnerability, and intention to every aspect of the storytelling process. With a background in visual journalism and non-profit work, Erin works to bring impact-focused stories to light through advocacy and dives into counterculture

narratives. She lives in the Pacific Northwest on P'Squosa (Wenatchi) homelands and is the founder of Brave Space Media.

Chelsea Murphy (she/her; co-producer, co-director) is a nature-loving advocate on a mission to bring diversity to the outdoors. Recognizing the lack of culture and diversity in outdoor recreation, her work promotes the idea of recreating what it means to be “outdoorsy.” She uses her voice to normalize conversations around racism and white supremacy, highlighting how both systems still dominate outdoor culture. Motherhood motivated Chelsea to be a good role model and her current forms of activism include participating in speaker panels, writing, and social media leadership. 

Sanjana Sekhar (she/her; co-director, co-DP, co-editor) is an Indian-American filmmaker, climate activist, and outdoor wanderer. Her work seeks to amplify character-driven stories that heal our human relationships to ourselves and our planet, with a specific interest in socioecological justice and ancestral knowledge. Sanjana has been featured at the Hollywood Climate Summit, TEDx Climate Across the Americas, and Sage Magazine. She is based in LA on ancestral Tongva land.