Earth Storyteller
Through storytelling in filmmaking, writing, and podcasting, Frank Weaver has been advocating for causes close to his heart for as long as he can remember.
Frank grew up volunteering on the reservations of the Panambi’y Indians of Northeastern Paraguay. He undertook audiovisual documentation of the Guaraní culture and the issues they were facing and shared this information with people worldwide. A Panambi’y Elder and spiritual practitioner Galeano Suarez initiated Frank into their tribe, saying: “Frank is one of us. He was initiated in a ceremony to make him a member of our tribe. I ask all people to support his work as he takes our plight to the world.”
Frank has released his photographs and information about the Panambi’y into the public domain to help share the information with the world. In 2010, National Geographic, YouTube, and The North Face selected one of his videos as an award winner in their Planet Inspired video contest for inspiring people to care about the planet.
In 2017, Frank procured and successfully donated a Panambi’y altar to the National Museum of the American Indian, a Smithsonian Institution.
Currently, Frank serves as an Eco Captain of Central Florida Recon, a group devoted to protecting the environment. Kayaking on rivers and lakes, volunteers see man-made pollution firsthand and are provided the tools to make a positive impact by removing litter and reducing their trash at home. With a coalition of citizen activists, they were able to ban styrofoam food containers in the city of Orlando, Florida.
Frank joined The Out of Eden Walk, a project of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and National Geographic Fellow Paul Salopek, who is retracing our ancestors' global migration in a 21,000-mile walk. Says Frank, "This project taught me the power of slowing down and paying attention to the world around us. I thank Paul for his ability to elevate the human spirit even when writing about tragedies we face on our planet and his lessons in the importance of humor and taking great care of the trust given by the people met along the way."
Currently, Frank is a proud mentor of UNITY’s Earth Ambassadors, an inspiring group of Native youth improving their communities through environmental projects.
Grateful to culminate years of learning and skills into a project to share global Indigenous voices, Frank launched the Indigenous Earth Community Podcast, highlighting ways contemporary Indigenous leaders honor their cultures. The podcast shares actionable tips to protect and connect to our earth while lessening our impact on it.
