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Salt of the Earth DVD
Salt of the Earth explores the cause of soil salinity and the potential solutions, some of which can be controversial. This provocative Prairie Public documentary informs both as a cautionary tale and also as an educational tool for farmers, soil scientists, and ordinary citizens.
Producer, Writer, and Narrator: Matt Olien Executive Producer: Bob Dambach Associate Producers: Steve Fischer, Jessica Beard, Tasha Gibby Editor/Videographer: Frode Tilden Videographers: Ben Stommes, Dave Geck, Ryan Sailer Graphics: Ben Stommes, Ryan Sailer Production Manager: Barbara Gravel Production Assistant: Jessica Odegard Captioning by Armour Captioning Funding for Salt of the Earth was provided by North Dakota Department of Health, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the members of Prairie Public.
Scandinavian Traditions DVD
Scandinavian Traditions takes a nostalgic look at childhood memories and family traditions and shows us that there is more to being Scandinavian than Ole and Lena jokes — this heritage is something to celebrate! This colorful Prairie Public DVD documents how Scandinavian communities are preserving their ethnic identity. Scandinavian Traditions documents how Scandinavian artists are preserving their ethnic identity and harks back to Grandma in the kitchen through the rich Nordic food traditions.
This video and DVD contains bonus footage that has never been broadcast. The bonus segment feature tours of four premier Scandinavian heritage museums: Versterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa; Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard, Washington; American Swedish Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and New Icelandic Heritage Museum in Gimli, Manitoba.
Soulful Sound: Music of the Germans From Russia CD
The audio soundtrack of the documentary “A Soulful Sound, Music of the Germans from Russia” includes 34 full-length performances on CD.
Tracks 1. “Wirsitzen so fröhlich beisammen” St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Centennial Choir 2. “Lasst die Kinder zu mir kommen” University of Mary Concert Choir 3. “Christus ist erstanden” University of Mary Concert Choir 4. “Die Königskinder” Maria Applehans & Rosalinda Kloberdanz 5. “Die Königskinder” John J. Gross & Sarah McMahon 6. “So nimm denn meine Hände” St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Centennial Choir 7. “Auf, auf mein Geist zu loben” Young People’s Hutterite Singers 8. “Nun danket alle Gott” Jamestown College Concert Choir 9. “Herr meines Herzens Trost und Tell” Young People’s Hutterite Singers 10. Heute scheid’ ich, heute wandr’ ich” Maria Applehans And 24 more tracks
Soulful Sound: Music of the Germans From Russia DVD
This 60-minute documentary on DVD is the fourth in Prairie Public’s “Germans from Russia” series. Throughout their travels, this enduring ethnic group maintained their traditional religious music, their lullabies and folk songs, their vocal and instrumental music. “A Soulful Sound: Music of the Germans from Russia” blends expert commentary with performances of traditional music—in the original language—from regional talent.
Performances by St. Andrews Lutheran Centennial Choir (Zeeland area), University of Mary Concert Choir (Bismarck), Jamestown College Concert Choir (Jamestown), Young People’s Hutterite Singers (Glyndon, MN), Alive Choir (Kulm area), James Valley Singers (Jamestown), Centennial Mens Choir (Harvey area) and the Napoleon area folk singers. Singers featured in the program include Maria Appelhans (Fort Collins, Colorado), Rosalinda Kloberdanz (Fargo), John Gross (Napoleon), Tony Wangler (Kintyre), Robert Erbele (Lehr) and Ron Volk (Harvey). Marv Zander (Mandan), Victor Schwahn (Bismarck) and their bands will perform accordion music at a barn dance and also recreate a traditional wedding reception in The BlueRoom in Strasburg. “Dutch Hop” music is performed from Torrington, Wyoming. The documentary is the fourth in the Prairie Public Germans from Russia Series, which includes “Germans from Russia: Children of the Steppe, Children of the Prairie”; “Schmeckfest: Food Traditions of the Germans from Russia”; and “Prairie Crosses, Prairie Voices: Iron Crosses of the Great Plains.” The documentary series tells the story of the German-speaking peoples who settled in Russia in the 18th and early 19th centuries, then migrated yet again to North America and South America. Throughout their travels, this enduring ethnic group maintained their traditional religious music, their lullabies and folk songs, their vocal and instrumental music. “A Soulful Sound, Music of the Germans from Russia” blends expert commentary with performances of traditional music—in the original language—from regional talent.
Soulful Sound: Special Offer DVD and CD
Get the DVD of a “Soulful Sound” PLUS the audio CD soundtrack that contains the full performances of all the music in the documentary for this special price.
Steamboats on the Red
Looking at the shallow twists and turns of the Red River, it’s hard to imagine that steam-powered paddlewheel boats were once the most important transportation link between St. Paul and Winnipeg. From the first in 1859 to the last that sank in 1909, Red River steamboats hauled thousands of settlers and millions of pounds of freight across the border. Although it lasted barely 50 years, the age of the steamboat forged a commercial network between the United States and Canada that exists to this day in the I29 corridor.
To shine a spotlight on this important piece of prairie history, Steamboats on the Red examines the history of steamboat transportation on the Red River and the impact this important trade route had on the development of the region.
Producer: Kim Stenehjem Editor: Ben Stommes Executive Producer: Bob Dambach Theme song composed by Elisa Korene Production funding provided by the following: Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the voters on November 4, 2008 North Dakota Humanities Council Winnipeg Foundation Members of Prairie Public Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily reflect those of the North Dakota Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Voices from the Heartland audio CD
“Voices of the Heartland” is a CD collection of narratives in the tradition of the Growing Up German-Russian series and gleaned from the oral histories collection of the Dakota Memories Oral History Project.
The 3-6 minute narratives aired in the Dakota Datebook time slot each Monday and Friday in the fall of 2007. Jessica Clark, project coordinator, explained that these interviews are designed to preserve the precious history and heritage of Germans from Russia on the Northern Plains. The series is hosted by State Senators Tim Mathern and Robert Erbele.
Walter Piehl: Sweetheart of the Rodeo DVD
Walter Piehl: Sweetheart of the Rodeo documents how this North Dakota visual artist and Minot State University art professor combines an expressionistic style with literal and interpretive investigations of many facets of Western American life.
Piehl’s acrylic on canvas work is often large in scale and is appreciated across North America as well as in his native state. Among his many honors and awards is a 2008 Enduring Visions Award for his creativity, connection to community, and impressive body of work presented by the Bush Foundation, a private foundation serving Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Producer: Bob Dambach Editor: Ann Hall Anderson Principle Videographer: Ryan Sailer Executive Producer: Bob Dambach Production funding provided by the North Dakota Council on the Arts and the members of Prairie Public.
Water: The Lifeblood of Energy DVD
Energy is inextricable linked to water. With the greater need for energy, the demand for water will continue to increase. How can we balance the need for water in energy with water for crops, households, and factories? How can we make do with the water we have? This 30-minute documentary describes the connection between water and energy and documents how cities and utilities across the western United States are collaborating, conserving, and utilizing new technology to squeeze more use out of every precious drop of water.
“Water: The Lifeblood of Energy” is a production of Prairie Public Broadcasting in collaboration with the Northern Great Plains Water Consortium, led by the University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center. Executive Producers Bethany Kurz and Bob Dambach; Producers/Writers Charlene Crocker and Daniel Daly; Production Manager Barbara Gravel; Animation Tim Eissenger of 3D Graphics; Narrator Joyce Eisenbraun.
We’ll Meet Again in Heaven
This thirty-minute documentary is a searing chronicle of a forgotten genocide and a lost people, whose ” .. misery screams to the heavens.” The lost people are the ethnic German minority living in Soviet Ukraine, who wrote their American relatives about the starvation, forced labor, and execution that were almost daily fare in Soviet Ukraine during 1928-1938.
Wetlands: The Drain Game DVD
Wetland loss is a major environmental problem on the prairies, and this loss is impacting water quality and flooding, which was widespread across much of the prairies during the spring and summer of 2011. “Wetlands: The Drain Game,” a 30-minute documentary, sheds light on those issues, explores economic impacts, and examines how wetland drainage affects all residents of the prairie region. Most importantly, the documentary looks at what is needed to protect these important ecosystems.
Ducks Unlimited Canada and Prairie Public Broadcasting collaborated on “Wetlands: The Drain Game” to help create awareness around the issue of wetlands drainage. Producer Bob Dambach; Associate Producer Karli Reimer; Editor Ryan Sailer.
Winnipeg in Bloom DVD
With little more than 100 frost free days, and clay-ladden prairie soils, the passionate gardeners of Winnipeg manage to grow outstanding gardens. On DVD, “Winnipeg in Bloom” is the story of these gardens of love and hope.
Nurtured like beloved children to produce what nature had never intended. Joyful, colourful, abundant, natural landscapes that succeed in creating a little Eden in each yard. Each new year, they emerge like artists ready to recreate a fresh canvas of delight and exultation. They paint with form and colour, turning rubble piles into sanctuaries.
WWII Prairie Memories DVD
World War II veterans are extraordinary—their bravery inspires us, and their sacrifices secured the freedoms we treasure. On DVD for the first time, “WWII Prairie Memories” is an important collection of veteran voices, a precious piece of history, that communicates the personal challenges and spiritual experiences that defined this generation of heroes.
This DVD includes three 30-minute documentary tributes originally aired on Prairie Public on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

