1 00:00:23,123 --> 00:00:25,459 Hey! Is that you, Will? 2 00:00:25,592 --> 00:00:27,528 That's me. That's me. 3 00:00:29,563 --> 00:00:31,265 This is you. 4 00:00:34,635 --> 00:00:36,904 Alright, you want me to hop on that boat? 5 00:00:39,239 --> 00:00:40,674 Okay. Alright. 6 00:00:40,807 --> 00:00:42,809 You know how you meet somebody... 7 00:00:44,077 --> 00:00:48,482 and in one second, you know that they're about to take you 8 00:00:48,615 --> 00:00:51,385 on an adventure you will never forget? 9 00:00:54,721 --> 00:00:55,789 Oh. 10 00:00:57,357 --> 00:00:59,159 Oh, okay, so we should do this then, yeah. 11 00:01:01,562 --> 00:01:03,864 That's how it was when I met John Aini. 12 00:01:21,281 --> 00:01:22,482 - We go? - Yes, we go. 13 00:01:22,616 --> 00:01:24,418 - Let's go. - Alright. 14 00:01:28,322 --> 00:01:31,592 So, uh, where exactly are we going? 15 00:01:36,997 --> 00:01:39,833 What-- what can I expect in this ceremony? 16 00:01:45,872 --> 00:01:46,840 Okay. 17 00:01:52,713 --> 00:01:53,680 Mm-hmm. 18 00:01:55,382 --> 00:01:56,316 Okay. 19 00:01:56,450 --> 00:01:58,852 Alright. 20 00:02:02,122 --> 00:02:03,957 So, John likes to play. 21 00:02:04,091 --> 00:02:05,525 You know, if we were in Philly, 22 00:02:05,659 --> 00:02:08,028 somebody might say John plays too much. 23 00:02:08,862 --> 00:02:14,334 But when it comes to his work, John could not be more serious. 24 00:02:35,889 --> 00:02:38,625 When I was young, my grandmother, 25 00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:40,227 she would always say, 26 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,730 "Try to make everything you touch better." 27 00:02:44,731 --> 00:02:48,235 She was a nurse, so her entire life 28 00:02:48,368 --> 00:02:51,972 was devoted to helping people. 29 00:02:52,806 --> 00:02:55,876 I guess, growing up, I've always struggled 30 00:02:56,009 --> 00:02:57,577 living up to that. 31 00:02:58,945 --> 00:03:01,648 But I'm working on it. I'm still young. 32 00:03:04,718 --> 00:03:08,555 So, for my next leg of this Pole to Pole journey, 33 00:03:08,688 --> 00:03:13,326 I've come to a beautiful, but fragile island archipelago 34 00:03:13,460 --> 00:03:15,595 way out in the Pacific Ocean... 35 00:03:16,430 --> 00:03:20,767 to meet local chieftain and marine ecologist John Aini. 36 00:03:21,835 --> 00:03:25,939 He kinda reminds me of my grandmother. 37 00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:31,344 That same desire to make everything he touches better. 38 00:03:32,345 --> 00:03:37,050 But his approach is like nothing I've ever seen before. 39 00:03:46,993 --> 00:03:49,629 So, what does that mean? What's happening? 40 00:03:55,001 --> 00:03:56,736 - I'll be safe. - Yeah. 41 00:04:02,409 --> 00:04:03,710 It's okay. We can go. 42 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,050 We are an ancient ocean people. 43 00:04:13,153 --> 00:04:15,555 Since the time of our ancestors... 44 00:04:16,790 --> 00:04:19,426 this beautiful ocean 45 00:04:19,559 --> 00:04:22,662 always provided for us. 46 00:04:34,241 --> 00:04:37,444 But now, with the challenges of climate change... 47 00:04:38,211 --> 00:04:41,281 in my lifetime, rising sea levels 48 00:04:41,414 --> 00:04:46,553 and extreme weather have totally destroyed our homes. 49 00:04:48,655 --> 00:04:50,123 Come forward. 50 00:04:52,792 --> 00:04:55,195 But I believe there is a way 51 00:04:55,328 --> 00:04:57,230 to protect this land, 52 00:04:57,364 --> 00:05:00,467 and that is to embrace our history. 53 00:05:13,547 --> 00:05:14,548 This is wild. 54 00:05:25,826 --> 00:05:30,430 I've never experienced anything like Vala before. 55 00:05:30,564 --> 00:05:32,132 Oh, man. 56 00:05:35,735 --> 00:05:39,339 I could just feel the deep respect 57 00:05:39,472 --> 00:05:41,975 for this beautiful ceremony. 58 00:05:47,180 --> 00:05:50,850 Even though I had no idea what was happening. 59 00:05:55,655 --> 00:05:58,558 So, what exactly was that ceremony? 60 00:05:58,692 --> 00:06:01,328 Like, what does it signify? 61 00:06:01,461 --> 00:06:03,830 Have you seen any fish run around now 62 00:06:03,964 --> 00:06:05,565 - since you walked out? - Oh. Yeah, yeah, no. 63 00:06:05,699 --> 00:06:07,934 You look at the corals, they're-- they're dead. 64 00:06:13,406 --> 00:06:15,609 This very ancient ceremony 65 00:06:15,742 --> 00:06:18,378 signifies that the-- the old reef area is closed, 66 00:06:18,511 --> 00:06:20,347 until the fish return. 67 00:06:22,949 --> 00:06:25,986 So this acts, basically, as a signal 68 00:06:26,119 --> 00:06:28,455 to anyone that might come around, 69 00:06:28,588 --> 00:06:31,358 - to not fish this area? - Yes. 70 00:07:11,731 --> 00:07:15,435 Watching John do his work, 71 00:07:15,568 --> 00:07:19,406 it really opened my eyes to a different way 72 00:07:19,539 --> 00:07:22,709 of thinking about our past. 73 00:07:31,685 --> 00:07:35,021 And you can just tell that John 74 00:07:35,155 --> 00:07:38,958 is... revered. 75 00:07:39,092 --> 00:07:43,296 He is using traditional knowledge, 76 00:07:43,430 --> 00:07:49,135 fighting for people who don't necessarily have a voice. 77 00:07:52,138 --> 00:07:53,073 - Will. - Mm-hmm? 78 00:07:53,206 --> 00:07:54,808 - I want you to meet Robert. - Hey. 79 00:07:54,941 --> 00:07:56,276 - Yeah. - What's happening, brother? 80 00:08:02,382 --> 00:08:05,719 So, what's the reason you called on John? 81 00:08:05,852 --> 00:08:07,354 - I can show you. - Oh, please. 82 00:08:09,789 --> 00:08:11,157 Oh, it's beautiful. 83 00:08:11,291 --> 00:08:13,460 - That's where you grew up? - Yeah. 84 00:09:41,948 --> 00:09:44,317 - That is a scary idea. - Yeah. 85 00:09:44,451 --> 00:09:47,821 If your home was in the middle of the ocean 86 00:09:47,954 --> 00:09:51,324 and the water begins to rise. 87 00:09:54,894 --> 00:09:56,262 - Two years? - Yeah. 88 00:09:56,396 --> 00:09:59,165 So, you weren't able to go back for two years. 89 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:08,408 Mm hmm, mm-hmm. 90 00:10:16,015 --> 00:10:21,221 I respect that, the-- the fight to save your home. 91 00:10:26,993 --> 00:10:28,228 A king tide is the name 92 00:10:28,361 --> 00:10:31,431 given to the highest tide of the year. 93 00:10:34,067 --> 00:10:36,035 When extreme weather occurs, 94 00:10:36,169 --> 00:10:39,739 I have seen whole communities... 95 00:10:39,873 --> 00:10:43,543 being washed away in front of my own eyes. 96 00:10:52,352 --> 00:10:57,590 Tench is a 60-mile sail across the open ocean. 97 00:10:57,724 --> 00:11:02,462 You know, perfect for like a high-powered super yacht. 98 00:11:03,496 --> 00:11:05,064 Oh, man. 99 00:11:05,198 --> 00:11:07,967 John, why you couldn't just get a regular boat, man? 100 00:11:08,101 --> 00:11:09,769 This is as safe as it can be. 101 00:11:09,903 --> 00:11:11,037 This can handle a crossing. 102 00:11:11,170 --> 00:11:13,239 - No, this boat cannot get-- - And this is big. 103 00:11:13,373 --> 00:11:15,241 This-- oh, this counts as a big boat? 104 00:11:18,344 --> 00:11:20,446 Alright, why we need these if the boat's safe? 105 00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:23,116 - It is safe. It is safe. - You need some help? 106 00:11:23,249 --> 00:11:24,651 - Get in the boat. - Alright. 107 00:11:26,486 --> 00:11:28,655 You need to experience our culture. 108 00:11:28,788 --> 00:11:30,156 Yes. This is one of the experiences. 109 00:11:30,290 --> 00:11:32,525 - Alright. No, I'm-- I'm down. - This is safe. 110 00:11:32,659 --> 00:11:33,626 It's not safe, John. 111 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:35,094 - There's no way it's safe. - It is safe as can be. 112 00:11:35,228 --> 00:11:36,462 But, I'm gonna experience your culture. 113 00:11:38,398 --> 00:11:41,067 If he had annoyed me on the boat... 114 00:11:42,835 --> 00:11:45,038 I would have thrown him back into the sea. 115 00:11:45,171 --> 00:11:46,739 Even the dog 116 00:11:46,873 --> 00:11:48,241 know we shouldn't be on this thing, John. 117 00:11:48,374 --> 00:11:50,343 The dog is like, "No! No!" 118 00:11:50,476 --> 00:11:52,579 "Will, no!" 119 00:12:06,793 --> 00:12:08,194 Will... 120 00:12:09,429 --> 00:12:10,630 Yeah? 121 00:12:12,799 --> 00:12:14,500 Alright. 122 00:12:19,939 --> 00:12:21,541 Wow! 123 00:12:21,674 --> 00:12:22,742 Look at that. 124 00:12:44,030 --> 00:12:46,165 What's amazing about John, 125 00:12:46,299 --> 00:12:48,801 is he's not just an expert. 126 00:12:48,935 --> 00:12:51,170 In tradition, 127 00:12:51,304 --> 00:12:54,907 he also educated himself 128 00:12:55,041 --> 00:12:58,444 in cutting-edge science. 129 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,448 This is one of the many coral reefs 130 00:13:02,582 --> 00:13:05,284 - that we're trying to protect. - Mm-hmm. 131 00:13:05,418 --> 00:13:10,089 There is a box which is part of our monitoring work, 132 00:13:10,223 --> 00:13:13,359 and, uh, I would want you to get underwater. 133 00:13:14,193 --> 00:13:15,662 - Bring it back. - And I'm gonna bring it back? 134 00:13:15,795 --> 00:13:16,863 - To me. Yeah. - To you? 135 00:13:16,996 --> 00:13:18,665 Um... 136 00:13:21,134 --> 00:13:23,603 Alright, so listen, this may not be the perfect time 137 00:13:23,736 --> 00:13:25,038 for me to share this. 138 00:13:25,171 --> 00:13:29,475 I, um... I'm not-- I'm not a great swimmer. 139 00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:33,446 I don't care, I want you to get underwater right now. 140 00:13:35,081 --> 00:13:37,550 I'm-- I'm not really an ocean guy. 141 00:13:38,318 --> 00:13:42,488 I'm one of the dudes that always has floaties on 142 00:13:42,622 --> 00:13:44,524 when I'm anywhere near the water. 143 00:13:45,391 --> 00:13:47,326 Is there any shark potential? 144 00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:48,494 Yeah. 145 00:13:49,562 --> 00:13:51,097 Alright, well, that's scary. 146 00:13:51,230 --> 00:13:52,265 It is not scary. 147 00:13:52,398 --> 00:13:53,766 You can't tell me, it's not scary. 148 00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:55,001 This is a lot of talking, uh... 149 00:13:55,134 --> 00:13:56,202 - Okay. - Just, go down. 150 00:13:56,336 --> 00:13:57,670 And you're sure that I'm the right person 151 00:13:57,804 --> 00:14:00,673 - that should be doing this? - You are the right person. 152 00:14:00,807 --> 00:14:03,076 - Okay, let's go. - Oh, man. 153 00:14:12,819 --> 00:14:15,755 I didn't realize there's a lot going on 154 00:14:15,888 --> 00:14:18,191 in a healthy alive reef. 155 00:14:19,826 --> 00:14:22,929 In the movie Finding Nemo, 156 00:14:23,062 --> 00:14:24,397 I thought that they were doing too much 157 00:14:24,530 --> 00:14:26,833 with the oversaturated colors. 158 00:14:28,034 --> 00:14:29,235 It's like, oh, no, 159 00:14:29,368 --> 00:14:31,104 that's exactly what it looks like down there. 160 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,175 All these different creatures 161 00:14:36,309 --> 00:14:39,412 living together in this... 162 00:14:40,613 --> 00:14:42,615 wild ecosystem. 163 00:14:45,251 --> 00:14:49,388 And there are thousands of miles of these reefs. 164 00:14:50,990 --> 00:14:53,860 Now, I understand why scientists call this place... 165 00:14:54,961 --> 00:14:56,796 the Amazon of the Seas. 166 00:14:59,565 --> 00:15:02,835 ♪ Can you rock it like rocket fuel? ♪ 167 00:15:05,772 --> 00:15:08,508 - How was it down there? - Oh, man. 168 00:15:08,641 --> 00:15:10,877 I think you were right. I was the man for the job. 169 00:15:11,010 --> 00:15:12,145 You're correct there. 170 00:15:12,278 --> 00:15:15,081 I realized down there, I was like, oh! 171 00:15:15,214 --> 00:15:17,283 That's what an alive reef looks like. 172 00:15:17,416 --> 00:15:20,219 - You see the difference? - For sure. 173 00:15:30,096 --> 00:15:32,632 The reefs are like a garden 174 00:15:32,765 --> 00:15:34,867 to the people of these islands, 175 00:15:34,967 --> 00:15:38,604 with so much food right there in the backyard. 176 00:15:40,239 --> 00:15:43,810 I'd never thought about how connected life is 177 00:15:43,943 --> 00:15:46,045 above and below the waves. 178 00:15:53,419 --> 00:15:55,121 - And Will. - Mm-hmm? 179 00:15:55,254 --> 00:15:57,990 - If it's a good healthy reef... - Mm-hmm. 180 00:15:58,124 --> 00:15:59,258 ...and the sharks come? 181 00:15:59,392 --> 00:16:00,827 - Mm-hmm? - They may jump on the boat 182 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:02,228 and bite you. 183 00:16:02,361 --> 00:16:05,031 Alright. Okay, no, see, I can see you about the games. 184 00:16:05,164 --> 00:16:06,399 You like jokes. 185 00:16:06,532 --> 00:16:08,601 If you ever come to Philly, I got you. 186 00:16:08,734 --> 00:16:11,103 I will die before I go to Philly. 187 00:16:31,490 --> 00:16:32,758 So, Will. 188 00:16:32,892 --> 00:16:36,662 Before we go to Tench, I want to make one last stop. 189 00:16:38,264 --> 00:16:40,066 What, do you need some gas? 190 00:16:42,902 --> 00:16:45,838 - You see what's in my back? - Oh, wow. 191 00:16:46,772 --> 00:16:48,574 When you're hanging with John, 192 00:16:48,708 --> 00:16:51,744 you just gotta be prepared for anything that might happen. 193 00:16:52,678 --> 00:16:55,848 Just like my grandmother, you know. 194 00:16:56,549 --> 00:17:00,286 He has this little smile that she had, 195 00:17:00,419 --> 00:17:04,357 like they know something that the rest of us don't know. 196 00:17:04,490 --> 00:17:06,626 - So, we've got company. - Yeah, right. 197 00:17:16,636 --> 00:17:18,037 Okay. That's good. That's good. Just somebody-- 198 00:17:19,305 --> 00:17:21,474 - By-- by special invitation. - Yeah. 199 00:17:38,991 --> 00:17:39,959 Uh-huh? 200 00:17:46,599 --> 00:17:48,167 I think I know who Mary is. 201 00:17:48,301 --> 00:17:49,969 - Do you? Yeah. - When I look around, I think 202 00:17:50,102 --> 00:17:52,405 - I know which one is Mary. - The only white Mary. 203 00:17:55,675 --> 00:17:57,109 - Alright. - Hello. 204 00:17:57,243 --> 00:17:58,477 - Hey, how are you doing? - Hey! 205 00:17:58,611 --> 00:17:59,612 That's Mary. How you doing? 206 00:17:59,745 --> 00:18:01,280 - Hi. Hi, Will. - I'm Will. I'm a hugger. 207 00:18:01,414 --> 00:18:02,615 - I'm Mary. - How you doing? 208 00:18:02,748 --> 00:18:04,216 Good morning, brother. How are you? 209 00:18:04,350 --> 00:18:05,418 I'm good. I'm good. 210 00:18:05,551 --> 00:18:06,686 I know we just met, but I'm gonna put you 211 00:18:06,819 --> 00:18:08,754 - to work right away. - Put me-- yeah. 212 00:18:08,888 --> 00:18:09,855 I love that. 213 00:18:12,625 --> 00:18:14,060 These guys sing songs 214 00:18:14,193 --> 00:18:15,194 in their own local languages. 215 00:18:15,328 --> 00:18:17,096 - Okay. - And PNG is the epicenter 216 00:18:17,229 --> 00:18:18,431 of linguistic diversity. 217 00:18:18,564 --> 00:18:21,300 If you think about 7,000 languages in the world, 218 00:18:21,434 --> 00:18:23,569 there's almost 850 languages... 219 00:18:23,703 --> 00:18:25,504 - Wow. - ...in PNG alone. 220 00:18:25,638 --> 00:18:27,873 They're speaking languages that are completely different 221 00:18:28,007 --> 00:18:30,076 from their neighbors, as different as, you know, 222 00:18:30,209 --> 00:18:32,778 - English is to Chinese. - Wow! 223 00:18:39,552 --> 00:18:41,087 So, it looks like... 224 00:18:42,288 --> 00:18:44,423 a lizard of some sort. 225 00:18:45,591 --> 00:18:47,727 Languages are human superpower. 226 00:18:57,403 --> 00:19:00,973 It's quite remarkable how we found 7,000 different ways 227 00:19:01,107 --> 00:19:03,609 of describing the world. 228 00:19:18,290 --> 00:19:22,628 Every season tells a different story about who we are, 229 00:19:22,762 --> 00:19:24,230 - where we are from. - Mm. 230 00:19:28,300 --> 00:19:32,138 But most of them are singing the songs, 231 00:19:32,271 --> 00:19:36,242 but maybe not now knowing the meanings of those songs. 232 00:19:36,375 --> 00:19:37,910 Oh, so they're ev-- so, some of them 233 00:19:38,044 --> 00:19:40,546 - are singing languages... - Words that they 234 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,282 - may not understand. - ...they don't-- oh, wow! 235 00:19:47,620 --> 00:19:48,821 Language is the core. 236 00:19:48,954 --> 00:19:51,991 It is what-- what sort of keeps people together. 237 00:19:56,495 --> 00:19:58,764 And if part of that core is going away, 238 00:19:58,898 --> 00:20:02,201 it, um, means part of their identity is-- is also dying. 239 00:20:04,370 --> 00:20:06,772 Every two weeks, a language disappears. 240 00:20:10,242 --> 00:20:14,513 Every two weeks, we lose a piece of our human history, 241 00:20:14,647 --> 00:20:17,550 a piece of our human knowledge. 242 00:20:20,786 --> 00:20:24,724 I think I just understood 243 00:20:24,857 --> 00:20:28,928 part of the plight of Blacks in America, 244 00:20:29,061 --> 00:20:30,696 with the loss of 245 00:20:30,830 --> 00:20:33,699 - individual languages. - Yes. 246 00:20:36,569 --> 00:20:39,572 It's-- it's like a-- a historical tether... 247 00:20:39,705 --> 00:20:41,907 - Yeah. Yeah. - ...gets severed 248 00:20:42,041 --> 00:20:45,244 to your bloodline... 249 00:20:45,377 --> 00:20:47,947 - Yes. Yes. - ...what your DNA 250 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:49,615 has contributed. 251 00:20:53,819 --> 00:20:55,054 It tells a-- it tells a long... 252 00:20:55,187 --> 00:20:57,089 - It tells a long story. - Long story. 253 00:20:57,223 --> 00:20:58,390 Yeah. Mm. 254 00:20:58,524 --> 00:21:00,960 - Never felt that before. - Yeah. 255 00:21:02,128 --> 00:21:04,396 - Yeah. Mm. - I-- I get that. 256 00:21:04,530 --> 00:21:06,665 I get the importance of that. 257 00:21:10,870 --> 00:21:15,741 Yeah, I felt, really, for the first time in my life, 258 00:21:15,875 --> 00:21:20,613 um, a sense of what was lost 259 00:21:20,746 --> 00:21:24,216 for my own history, 260 00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:27,853 and, you know, the idea that the history of Black Americans 261 00:21:27,987 --> 00:21:33,192 didn't start on a boat in 1620. 262 00:21:34,193 --> 00:21:37,496 But I've never really thought about it 263 00:21:37,630 --> 00:21:40,132 in terms of, like, language. 264 00:21:41,834 --> 00:21:46,639 It's who you are beyond what you are today. 265 00:21:51,844 --> 00:21:54,747 It's very similar to the situation in Tench, 266 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:56,482 - where I'm headed with you guys. - Right. 267 00:21:56,615 --> 00:21:58,250 - Yeah. - It's probably one of the most 268 00:21:58,384 --> 00:21:59,818 endangered languages in the world. 269 00:21:59,952 --> 00:22:01,487 - Oh, wow. - And we'll see. 270 00:22:01,620 --> 00:22:03,255 We'll see, you know, how many speakers 271 00:22:03,389 --> 00:22:04,790 are-- are left of this language. 272 00:22:04,924 --> 00:22:08,360 But it's an incredible opportunity to go 273 00:22:08,494 --> 00:22:11,096 and record them and, um, safeguard them. 274 00:22:11,230 --> 00:22:15,100 So, what-- so it's like a dual conservation mission. 275 00:22:15,234 --> 00:22:16,302 Yeah. Yeah. 276 00:22:16,435 --> 00:22:18,971 So, we're trying to save the land 277 00:22:19,104 --> 00:22:20,873 - and the history. - Exactly. 278 00:22:21,006 --> 00:22:23,909 Yes, exactly, so it's a serious situation. 279 00:22:40,092 --> 00:22:42,628 The final leg to Tench 280 00:22:42,761 --> 00:22:46,799 is when the land starts to disappear. 281 00:22:50,402 --> 00:22:51,637 Yeah, no, no I'm good. 282 00:22:52,638 --> 00:22:53,639 I'm good. 283 00:22:57,743 --> 00:23:01,380 And all that lies ahead is open ocean. 284 00:23:04,683 --> 00:23:08,254 Every direction is just blue. 285 00:23:11,590 --> 00:23:16,495 We were, you know, real far from real far. 286 00:23:33,912 --> 00:23:37,616 John, are those storm clouds? 287 00:23:37,750 --> 00:23:40,886 Those ones are, yeah. And there's rain coming. 288 00:23:41,020 --> 00:23:42,388 And you're okay with that? 289 00:23:42,521 --> 00:23:44,290 Well, we will see what happens, 290 00:23:44,423 --> 00:23:49,194 but, uh, if it's on the horizon, it would be real better. 291 00:23:55,134 --> 00:23:59,972 The crossing to Tench has always been dangerous. 292 00:24:00,906 --> 00:24:05,377 That stretch of water, that is unpredictable. 293 00:24:08,914 --> 00:24:10,549 Oh, geez. 294 00:24:10,683 --> 00:24:13,052 The weather is coming in. 295 00:24:13,185 --> 00:24:15,187 It's-- it's, uh... 296 00:24:15,321 --> 00:24:16,355 Oh, man. 297 00:24:20,192 --> 00:24:23,262 Oh, goodness. There's no way this is sturdy. 298 00:24:26,432 --> 00:24:28,867 - John, do we trust this? - You trust it. 299 00:24:28,968 --> 00:24:31,236 - We trust this thing, okay. - Yeah. 300 00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:35,541 This is such a tiny boat. 301 00:24:35,674 --> 00:24:37,576 There's just a few inches of wood 302 00:24:37,710 --> 00:24:39,745 separating us from the depths. 303 00:24:45,184 --> 00:24:48,454 You feel vulnerable and powerless. 304 00:24:49,288 --> 00:24:51,457 It's moving, it's moving, it's moving. 305 00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:52,825 The whole thing is moving. 306 00:24:55,260 --> 00:24:57,129 We will make it. We will make it. 307 00:24:58,931 --> 00:25:00,366 Look at this. 308 00:25:04,103 --> 00:25:06,004 What the heck just happened? 309 00:25:06,138 --> 00:25:07,973 See, we are safe from the rain. 310 00:25:08,107 --> 00:25:10,175 I told you, I was gonna look after you. 311 00:25:11,043 --> 00:25:12,611 You feel alright, Will? 312 00:25:12,745 --> 00:25:14,613 Yeah, I'm good. I'm not seasick at all. 313 00:25:17,449 --> 00:25:19,451 I guess that's the feeling 314 00:25:19,585 --> 00:25:21,587 that John wanted me to have, 315 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,256 why he picked this boat. 316 00:25:25,891 --> 00:25:29,128 So I could experience the power 317 00:25:29,261 --> 00:25:31,797 of the ocean, 318 00:25:31,930 --> 00:25:35,968 the way his ancestors have for thousands of years. 319 00:25:45,077 --> 00:25:49,281 And then, this little dot just pops up 320 00:25:49,415 --> 00:25:52,451 in the middle of nothing. 321 00:25:54,219 --> 00:25:56,522 That's it? That-- that's Tench? 322 00:25:56,655 --> 00:25:57,756 - That's her? - Yeah! Yeah. 323 00:25:57,890 --> 00:25:59,658 - There we go. - That's Tench. 324 00:25:59,792 --> 00:26:02,861 There she is. There she is. 325 00:26:03,695 --> 00:26:06,598 Tench Island, here we come! 326 00:26:24,750 --> 00:26:27,252 We made it. We made it. 327 00:26:35,828 --> 00:26:37,429 This is fantastic, man. 328 00:26:38,297 --> 00:26:40,132 - Hi. - What's happening, brother? 329 00:26:40,265 --> 00:26:41,467 - Yeah. I'm good. - Good to see you. 330 00:26:41,633 --> 00:26:42,835 This your-- this your hometown. 331 00:26:42,968 --> 00:26:44,703 Yeah, this is my home island. Yeah. 332 00:26:44,837 --> 00:26:48,273 - Welcome to my island home. - Thank you, thank you. 333 00:26:57,816 --> 00:26:59,585 This is stunning. 334 00:27:03,856 --> 00:27:06,258 How many people live in the village? 335 00:27:06,391 --> 00:27:08,627 Currently, it's less than 100. 336 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:10,529 - Less than 100. - Yep. 337 00:27:14,967 --> 00:27:16,835 While Mary meets the community, 338 00:27:16,969 --> 00:27:18,770 I need to figure out if these people 339 00:27:18,904 --> 00:27:20,439 can survive another flood, 340 00:27:20,572 --> 00:27:22,541 by seeing how they live. 341 00:27:30,849 --> 00:27:32,918 Lots of food. Lunch and dinner. 342 00:27:33,051 --> 00:27:34,553 That's fantastic. 343 00:27:40,259 --> 00:27:42,494 Growing up like this would be wild. 344 00:27:43,328 --> 00:27:46,632 These kids wake up, jump out of their bed, 345 00:27:46,765 --> 00:27:48,100 into the ocean. 346 00:27:49,034 --> 00:27:51,637 Like, this is how you spend your afternoon. 347 00:27:52,604 --> 00:27:56,441 It feels like you have your own little piece 348 00:27:56,575 --> 00:27:58,277 of the-- the Earth, 349 00:27:58,410 --> 00:28:00,112 and... 350 00:28:00,245 --> 00:28:02,648 it's-- it's magnificent. 351 00:28:06,952 --> 00:28:08,287 Yeah. 352 00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:11,924 This would be hard to leave. This would be hard to leave. 353 00:28:48,961 --> 00:28:50,128 Oh, really? 354 00:28:51,363 --> 00:28:54,032 So, as we're walking down here, you're saying the water 355 00:28:54,166 --> 00:28:56,969 would have-- would have been getting deeper here? 356 00:29:03,008 --> 00:29:04,176 Yeah. 357 00:29:06,378 --> 00:29:07,479 Mm-hmm. 358 00:29:09,715 --> 00:29:10,749 Wow. 359 00:29:36,742 --> 00:29:37,743 Got it. 360 00:29:41,313 --> 00:29:43,248 What makes this reef so unique, 361 00:29:43,382 --> 00:29:46,351 is that it doesn't just surround the island. 362 00:29:46,485 --> 00:29:49,521 It literally is the island. 363 00:29:50,722 --> 00:29:51,990 Whoa! 364 00:29:52,124 --> 00:29:54,426 That's crazy. It's like a cliff. 365 00:29:56,094 --> 00:29:58,664 It's like a coral tower. 366 00:30:00,499 --> 00:30:04,002 A single column rising up from the ocean bed 367 00:30:04,136 --> 00:30:05,737 nearly a mile below... 368 00:30:06,571 --> 00:30:09,808 with just a few feet of land breaching the surface. 369 00:30:10,742 --> 00:30:15,113 Every inch of it made by coral over millions of years. 370 00:30:18,984 --> 00:30:20,552 It looks-- looks healthy from here. 371 00:30:20,686 --> 00:30:22,988 I mean, I'm not an expert, obviously. 372 00:30:23,121 --> 00:30:25,324 It is an amazing reef. 373 00:30:25,457 --> 00:30:29,561 So, that-- that's good news for the people of Tench? 374 00:30:29,695 --> 00:30:32,631 Well, there is also bad news. 375 00:30:46,278 --> 00:30:48,246 - Yeah. - Wow. 376 00:31:17,342 --> 00:31:19,077 So, if they don't heed that warning, 377 00:31:19,211 --> 00:31:21,580 essentially, they're just sitting out here waiting 378 00:31:21,713 --> 00:31:24,349 - for another king tide to die. - To die, yeah. 379 00:31:26,885 --> 00:31:29,521 So, you know, essentially... 380 00:31:30,856 --> 00:31:34,760 your recommendation is that they prepare to move. 381 00:31:38,897 --> 00:31:42,200 They've always identified as Tench Islanders. 382 00:31:42,334 --> 00:31:44,569 And if they are going to move out, 383 00:31:44,703 --> 00:31:50,408 I worry that the identity, their culture goes. 384 00:31:55,147 --> 00:31:58,049 These people look upon me as... 385 00:31:58,183 --> 00:32:01,620 as someone that can help, but here I lost. 386 00:32:04,189 --> 00:32:06,825 I don't know what options to offer to them. 387 00:32:11,196 --> 00:32:14,299 These are my people. 388 00:32:45,530 --> 00:32:48,266 It was hard seeing John like that. 389 00:32:49,768 --> 00:32:52,437 You know, I make movies all the time where... 390 00:32:53,638 --> 00:32:57,409 I'm a-- I'm a hero, and I get to just write it in 391 00:32:57,542 --> 00:32:59,144 that I saved the day, you know? 392 00:32:59,277 --> 00:33:01,680 And he was really hoping that he'd be able 393 00:33:01,813 --> 00:33:05,417 to-- to do something and come up with-- with something, and... 394 00:33:07,786 --> 00:33:10,255 Yeah, life's a little more complicated than that. 395 00:33:13,492 --> 00:33:15,560 You know, Tench is really a microcosm 396 00:33:15,694 --> 00:33:17,496 of what's going on around the world. 397 00:33:23,401 --> 00:33:27,305 How climate change is affecting many coastal cities. 398 00:33:28,673 --> 00:33:33,044 You know, to imagine if the-- the street 399 00:33:33,178 --> 00:33:36,214 that I grew up on in Philly, 400 00:33:36,348 --> 00:33:41,019 if-- if Woodcrest Avenue was just gone forever. 401 00:33:57,636 --> 00:34:00,405 I think you're a very strong people. 402 00:34:00,538 --> 00:34:03,174 You have survived, you have adapted 403 00:34:03,308 --> 00:34:05,510 with the changing times. 404 00:34:05,644 --> 00:34:11,283 But because we may face much larger king tides. 405 00:34:15,353 --> 00:34:18,456 I know you don't want to leave this place. 406 00:34:18,590 --> 00:34:23,795 But I think you need to start thinking about it. 407 00:34:55,393 --> 00:34:58,396 So, they-- you-- you feel like you're... 408 00:34:59,030 --> 00:35:01,333 you're not-- you're not moving no matter what? 409 00:35:01,466 --> 00:35:02,867 - No. - No. 410 00:35:04,970 --> 00:35:07,172 I think we will need to work together 411 00:35:07,305 --> 00:35:08,406 to save you as a people. 412 00:35:08,540 --> 00:35:11,009 And at least there is some things 413 00:35:11,142 --> 00:35:12,844 that we can just hold onto. 414 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:16,614 Mary? 415 00:35:17,549 --> 00:35:20,685 I think even in the situation 416 00:35:20,819 --> 00:35:23,521 where you might have to leave, you know, what's important 417 00:35:23,655 --> 00:35:26,725 is the community, the people. 418 00:35:26,858 --> 00:35:29,527 And there is a way to preserve that. 419 00:35:30,762 --> 00:35:33,465 I can work with you guys. We can-- we can start today. 420 00:35:33,598 --> 00:35:36,167 We can start to record, you know, words, 421 00:35:36,301 --> 00:35:40,572 and-- and some of your stories, your songs, and your histories. 422 00:35:40,705 --> 00:35:43,241 It's another way to adapt, um, 423 00:35:43,375 --> 00:35:45,910 outside of the island, if you need to. 424 00:35:46,044 --> 00:35:49,814 Something that kids in the next generation can hold onto. 425 00:35:57,622 --> 00:36:02,927 I really admire your faith and your strength. 426 00:36:03,061 --> 00:36:05,797 - Thank you. - Thank you, brother. 427 00:36:17,242 --> 00:36:18,743 - You're hearing it? - Yeah. 428 00:36:24,749 --> 00:36:27,252 Okay, so before we start, 429 00:36:27,385 --> 00:36:29,087 can you just tell me your name? 430 00:36:35,527 --> 00:36:37,996 Enusi? What does-- what does that mean? 431 00:36:41,833 --> 00:36:43,601 So, we've been calling it Tench. 432 00:36:43,735 --> 00:36:47,505 So, that's the-- that's the wrong name? 433 00:36:57,315 --> 00:36:58,583 Enusi. Alright. 434 00:36:58,716 --> 00:36:59,818 - Enusi. - So, we're gonna do Enusi. 435 00:36:59,951 --> 00:37:01,453 - No more Tench. - No more Tench. 436 00:37:01,586 --> 00:37:03,488 Okay, I also wanna get a sense 437 00:37:03,621 --> 00:37:06,057 of the health of this language. 438 00:37:06,191 --> 00:37:09,527 How many people are using Enusi? 439 00:37:15,366 --> 00:37:20,572 So, Norman, did you speak Enusi with your-- your parents? 440 00:37:30,615 --> 00:37:34,953 When a language is severely endangered, 441 00:37:35,086 --> 00:37:38,389 uh, and really existing as sort of a linguistic memory, 442 00:37:38,523 --> 00:37:41,025 sometimes it's a bit of an excavation. 443 00:37:42,327 --> 00:37:45,764 So, we might have to do some... 444 00:37:45,897 --> 00:37:47,532 - sort of digging. - Yeah. 445 00:37:47,665 --> 00:37:49,367 - Metaphorically, right? - Yeah. Yeah. 446 00:37:49,501 --> 00:37:52,403 Let's-- let's start with just the body. 447 00:37:52,537 --> 00:37:55,073 So, how do you say this in Enusi? 448 00:37:55,206 --> 00:37:56,975 Um... 449 00:37:59,177 --> 00:38:02,280 - Uru. - Uru. Uru. 450 00:38:02,413 --> 00:38:03,581 With the-- with the... 451 00:38:03,715 --> 00:38:05,150 - Uru? Uru? - Yeah. Yeah. 452 00:38:05,283 --> 00:38:06,618 Eyes? 453 00:38:06,751 --> 00:38:08,219 - Mata. - Mata. 454 00:38:09,721 --> 00:38:11,623 So, you start with very simple words, 455 00:38:11,756 --> 00:38:14,959 words for things in the environment that everyone has. 456 00:38:15,827 --> 00:38:17,929 How would you say beach? 457 00:38:19,564 --> 00:38:20,732 Uh... 458 00:38:23,835 --> 00:38:27,005 - Raratie. - How about wave? 459 00:38:28,406 --> 00:38:30,675 Uh, koto. 460 00:38:30,808 --> 00:38:32,810 Is there a word for coral? 461 00:38:34,479 --> 00:38:35,947 Raday. 462 00:38:37,649 --> 00:38:38,750 And then if you can get that, 463 00:38:38,883 --> 00:38:40,285 then you-- then you keep building. 464 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:46,224 How would you say, "I'm from Enusi"? 465 00:38:47,392 --> 00:38:50,862 Au... Enusi Au. 466 00:38:50,995 --> 00:38:52,664 Au Enusi Au. 467 00:38:57,635 --> 00:39:01,973 Hearing a-- a language that so few people 468 00:39:02,106 --> 00:39:04,409 on Earth have heard, 469 00:39:04,542 --> 00:39:06,611 it's a-- it's a real, real honor. 470 00:39:06,744 --> 00:39:09,447 Like, it tells the story of... 471 00:39:09,581 --> 00:39:11,115 - Yeah. - ...of the people. 472 00:39:11,249 --> 00:39:12,450 It-- it is the story. 473 00:39:12,584 --> 00:39:13,618 - It embodies the story. - You got it. 474 00:39:13,751 --> 00:39:16,354 - Yeah, yeah. - Yeah, that's beautiful. 475 00:39:16,487 --> 00:39:18,823 - So, we're gonna keep trying to tell the story. - Yeah. 476 00:39:18,957 --> 00:39:20,625 - Mm-hmm. - Put the story back together. 477 00:39:20,758 --> 00:39:21,693 - Yeah. - Mm-hmm. 478 00:39:21,826 --> 00:39:23,161 Yeah. 479 00:39:26,998 --> 00:39:30,401 I experienced the incredible beauty 480 00:39:30,535 --> 00:39:32,270 of a father and son 481 00:39:32,403 --> 00:39:35,707 connecting over the language of their history. 482 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:38,309 Thank you, sir. Thank you, thank you. 483 00:39:39,510 --> 00:39:42,180 You know, um, I experienced 484 00:39:42,313 --> 00:39:44,249 that same connection 485 00:39:44,382 --> 00:39:46,718 with my own grandmother. 486 00:39:47,852 --> 00:39:53,558 She would sing old African songs 487 00:39:53,691 --> 00:39:55,360 and-- and lullabies. 488 00:39:58,563 --> 00:39:59,530 Uh... 489 00:40:05,670 --> 00:40:07,538 It-- it was powerful. 490 00:40:07,672 --> 00:40:12,210 I wish I remembered more of them, 491 00:40:12,343 --> 00:40:15,013 you know, for my children. 492 00:40:15,914 --> 00:40:19,751 Those songs were lost 493 00:40:19,884 --> 00:40:24,155 when she passed, and it's really, um... 494 00:40:26,057 --> 00:40:27,625 You know, you lo-- you lose something 495 00:40:27,759 --> 00:40:30,128 when you don't preserve it. 496 00:40:51,449 --> 00:40:53,751 We are just one world. 497 00:40:55,920 --> 00:40:58,122 It is the responsibility 498 00:40:58,256 --> 00:41:03,428 of every right-thinking human being on this planet, 499 00:41:03,561 --> 00:41:06,631 to protect what is important. 500 00:41:08,900 --> 00:41:10,735 Once it's gone, it's gone. 501 00:41:16,774 --> 00:41:21,446 This trip for me felt so bittersweet. 502 00:41:22,380 --> 00:41:25,216 The people of Enusi are facing a crisis 503 00:41:25,350 --> 00:41:29,487 that is really almost too much to imagine. 504 00:41:32,757 --> 00:41:37,562 But even in the loss of it all... 505 00:41:38,529 --> 00:41:44,068 John and Mary have created a moment for them to celebrate 506 00:41:44,202 --> 00:41:47,038 through the legacy of their language. 507 00:41:48,239 --> 00:41:51,809 And now, they have part of their home... 508 00:41:53,444 --> 00:41:55,847 to hold onto. 509 00:41:56,681 --> 00:41:58,216 That's beautiful. 510 00:42:01,452 --> 00:42:03,321 Au Enusi Au. 511 00:42:15,533 --> 00:42:18,336 The Kalahari is the largest stretch of sand 512 00:42:18,469 --> 00:42:19,504 on the planet. 513 00:42:21,539 --> 00:42:24,075 Only the toughest survives. 514 00:42:25,810 --> 00:42:27,779 My hands? 515 00:42:27,912 --> 00:42:29,247 Yeah, yeah, it's very soft. 516 00:42:32,683 --> 00:42:34,485 I've never been hunting. 517 00:42:36,587 --> 00:42:37,722 I'm not that dude. 518 00:42:37,855 --> 00:42:39,056 There are lots of tracks here. 519 00:42:39,190 --> 00:42:41,125 Listen, listen. Ah! 520 00:42:50,835 --> 00:42:52,570 Where are we going? 521 00:42:54,272 --> 00:42:56,107 You will see. Come on. 522 00:42:56,974 --> 00:42:59,177 Wow. That's amazing.