Governor's Lecture in the Humanities

The 30th Annual Governor's Lecture in the Humanities

Indigenous Storytelling Through Film and Television

October 21, 2025 • Holland Performing Arts Center • Omaha

“Indigenous Storytelling Through Film and Television” will feature “Dark Winds” star/executive producer Zahn McClarnon in conversation with film producer Bird Runningwater. Presented by Humanities Nebraska (HN), the event is free and open to the public at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha and live-streamed.

Questions? See the FAQ page.

Zahn McClarnon is an award-winning film and television actor who has appeared in over 90 film and television productions including the critically acclaimed series “Fargo,” the award-winning series “Westworld,” and many others. A member of the Hunkpapa Lakota Tribe, McClarnon is an executive producer and lead actor in the AMC television series “Dark Winds,” and will make his directorial debut during the upcoming fourth season. “Dark Winds” is based on the Hillerman “Leaphorn & Chee” novel series, following two Navajo police officers in the 1970s Southwest investigating a string of seemingly unrelated crimes. McClarnon is also a graduate of Omaha Central High School.

A member of the Cheyenne and Mescalero Apache Tribal Nations, Bird Runningwater has had an illustrious producing career that includes Fancy Dance starring Lily Gladstone. Runningwater previously led the Sundance Institute’s commitment to indigenous filmmakers for 20 years. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and serves on the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Film Preservation Board. He also built and managed the private philanthropy of a Rockefeller family member focused on revitalizing indigenous languages in North America.

Co-chaired by Carol Wang and Beth Whited, this year’s Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities is the 30th consecutive year that Humanities Nebraska has brought an outstanding national speaker to Nebraska to give a free public talk on topics related to the humanities.

Prior to the free public conversation, the 2025 Sower Award in the Humanities will be presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the public understanding of the humanities in Nebraska.

A benefit dinner to raise crucial funds for HN’s statewide work will take place earlier in the evening. With recent major cuts to federal funding for all state humanities councils, event sponsors and other contributors enable HN to continue statewide programming in keeping with its mission to help people explore what connects us and makes us human.

Learn how to become a sponsor here, or send email to Erin L. Moran, director of development.

Humanities Nebraska thanks those who helped make the 30th Annual Governor's Lecture in the Humanities possible:

Co-Sponsors

Resources

Zahn McClarnon page at IMDB

Bird Runningwater page at IMDB

“Dark Winds” series information at AMC

Leaphorn & Chee detective novels: Goodreads, Amazon, authors’ page

History of Humanities Nebraska's Governor's Lecture

In 1996, Humanities Nebraska collaborated with Governor Ben Nelson to establish the Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities, an annual event to demonstrate the importance of the humanities in public life. His successors, Governors Mike Johanns, Dave Heineman, Pete Ricketts, and Jim Pillen have continued to enthusiastically support this lecture series, which is free and open to the public. The lecture features a nationally renowned speaker and is preceded by a benefit dinner. Each year the event alternates between Lincoln and Omaha. When held in Lincoln, the Governor’s Lecture is affiliated with the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues lecture series at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. In addition to bringing a nationally recognized speaker to Nebraska and building a strong working relationship with Nebraska’s governor, the Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities increases public visibility for Humanities Nebraska and its programs and generates income for statewide humanities programs. Annually, Humanities Nebraska honors individuals, institutions, businesses and communities with the Sower Award in the Humanities for contributions to public understanding of the humanities in Nebraska, based on nominations and letters of support from the citizens of Nebraska. The Sower Award is an original bronze sculpture by Nebraska artist Sondra Dunn Mahoney.