Braided River

Mission

Braided River weaves together exquisite photography and powerful stories that inspire a sense of wonder and responsibility for wild and sacred lands– leading to thriving communities in balance with the natural world.

What We Do

Braided River blends breath-taking photography with evocative environmental justice journalism to create beautiful books, multimedia experiences, immersive events and museum exhibits. We build public awareness about the threats that wild lands face, inspire people to take action, and connect them with grassroots organizations. Our approach leads to on-the-ground victories for wilderness preservation.

We are proud to work in partnership with some of the world's most exceptional nature photographers, including Kiliii Yüyan, Paul Bannick, David Moskowitz, Joe Riis, Florian Schulz, Steven Kazlowski, Amy Gulick, Art Wolfe, Hugh Rose, and Subhankar Banerjee. We match our photographer's astonishing images with eloquent essays from respected nature and environmental writers and advocates-including former President Jimmy Carter, Robert Kennedy Jr., Peter Matthiessen, Terry Tempest Williams, Douglas Chadwick, Gretel Ehrlich, Rick Bass, Richard Louv, Debbie S. Miller and David Suzuki. Our books are published in partnership with Mountaineers Books, the non-profit outdoors book publishing division of The Mountaines, which also shares staff with Braided River.

Featured Campaigns

Guardians of Life: Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and Restoring the Planet (Feb 2026)

Witness profound stewardship in action: from Mongolia's sacred peaks to Palau’s coral reefs, where traditional knowledge drives cutting-edge conservation. This extraordinary visual journey is powered by the collective wisdom of more than two dozen Indigenous voices, including activist Quannah Chasinghorse and Palauan statesman Tommy Remengesau Jr, revealing Indigenous communities as Earth's most powerful protectors. Their expertise is brought forward through National Geographic photojournalist Kiliii Yüyan's striking imagery, the editorial mastery of bestselling author (1491) Charles Mann, and writer Gleb Raygorodetsky's insights.

Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin (June 2024)

Explore the Columbia River and its expansive watershed from source to sea. The stunning photography book and upcoming traveling exhibit illuminate the river's geological, ecological, and cultural beauty—as well as the current challenges and the people working on sustainable solutions. The future of this river is uncertain, with powerful and complex environmental and cultural forces in play. Photography by award-winning photographer David Moskowitz, supported by narrative essays by author Eileen Delehanty Pearkes, a poem by Claudia Castro Luna, and contributions from members of the various communities whose lives are touched by this river, create a powerful, inspirational, and educational resource.

Living River: The Promise of the Mighty Colorado (Mar 2023)

Across the West, ranchers, Native elders, scientists, and regular citizens are uniting under one flag: river keepers. They are working to restore habitat, stop pollution and diversions, and speak up for the mighty Colorado River’s right to live. Through visual storytelling, this book and multimedia traveling exhibit show that we can have a resilient watershed if we change our relationship with water. From the glacial headwaters to Bears Ears to the Colorado River delta in Mexico, conservation photographer Dave Showalter provides a deeper understanding of how closely our lives depend upon water, and how our future will be defined by the well-being of common and endangered species in the watershed.

America's Arctic

For close to 25 years, Braided River has worked at the forefront of protecting the unimaginably wild and sacred life and land of America’s Arctic. In alliance with Indigenous Peoples, grassroots organizations, and Alaska writers, photographers, fishers, hunters, and guides—our books, events, campaigns, journalism, and film impact work have never been more important. Within several weeks, land within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be open for industry oil and gas lease sales.  Yes, drilling in a wildlife refuge—on public land.  We are committed to work together to ensure these leases never result in destroying this global natural treasure.

Secret to Success

We start with a beautiful photographic book and a passionate photographer. We believe books are cultural artifacts that provide an enduring platform for both reaching and representing new and diverse audiences. Every project supports grassroots partnerships, a clearly defined advocacy campaign, and a shared and challenging goal—whether it is to permanently protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or change behaviors to protect the Salish Sea.

Photos below by Kiliii Yüyan, Dave Showalter, David Moskowitz, Amy Gulick, and Florian Schulz.