Bön in Dolpo

Bön in Dolpo explores the ancient Zhang Zhung kingdom in the remote Tibetan enclave of northern Nepal where Bön practices have endured for centuries in an unbrokenlineage.

Includes a post-screening discussion moderated by Andrea Heckman.

Bön is the indigenous religion of Tibet that once encompassed much of the Himalayas. In the nearly inaccessible region of Dolpo, Bön leaders are building schools, temples, and medical clinics in an attempt to preserve their religious customs. While they don’t have roads or electricity, they possess several ancient texts and monasteries. This documentary shares insight into the community’s practice and preservation of thesetraditions in relation to the sacred landscape.

About the Speaker

The producer and director of Bön in Dolpo, Andrea Heckman has a PhD in Anthropology and Art History from the University of New Mexico. She has worked in Peru for over 30 years, where she was a Fulbright scholar. Her book, Woven Stories: Andean Textiles and Rituals, won the Collier Award from the Society for Visual Anthropology. Heraward-winning documentaries include Crossing Bridges, Mountain Sanctuary, Bon: Mustang to Menri, and Woven Stories: Weaving Traditions of Northern New Mexico.