Future Montana PBS Productions

Massacre on the Marias

When U.S. Army troops set out to attack a Blackfeet camp on a subzero January morning in 1870, they came upon a different, peaceful camp, of mostly women, children and elders – and killed them anyway. The bloody body toll on the big bend of the Marias River would be much greater than the army’s count of 173. But while Major Eugene Baker hoped to eliminate native peoples from these lands, the Blackfeet Tribe survived – including many descendants of those who ran for their lives and survived the massacre on the Marias.

Cooke City Feature Documentary 

Each winter the dramatic landscape of Cooke City, Montana draws large numbers of Backcountry skiers and snowmobilers from all over the world. It is also one of the most deadly avalanche regions in North America. With less than 100 winter residents and a small search and rescue team, this tiny community must contend with the weight and aftermath of each tragic incident.

MOntanapbs

George Bird Grinnell: The Way Forward

When George Bird Grinnell (1849-1938) died, the first sentence of his New York Times obituary lauded him as “the father of American Conservation.” Almost a century later, in 2019, Timothy Egan wrote in The New York Times, “Without a doubt, the United States is a better place because of George Bird Grinnell.” These accolades are well deserved. 

The one-hour documentary will illuminate the man and his work, placing him squarely, even radically, in the forefront of conservation, preservation and indigenous cultural efforts. 

Montana PBS

A River Runs Through It

The September 2026 premiere of this new opera, commissioned by Opera Montana, will be recorded by Montana PBS for a fall television broadcast release. Montana PBS is actively seeking support to reach a $150,000 production budget for this exciting project. Scheduled for completion in fall 2026, the program is slated for broadcast shortly thereafter--with the potential to remain a viewer favorite for years to come.