Big Medicine: York Outdoors

Honoring the legacy of York and finding joy in America's open spaces.

Big Medicine: York Outdoors is a 30-minute documentary produced by Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in partnership with NEW Multimedia.

The film follows eight adventurers on a four day river expedition along the Upper Missouri

River Breaks National Monument in Montana, a rugged and beautiful landscape traversed by the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806. While following in the footsteps of the Corps of Discovery, the film highlights York's significant contributions and expands the narrative of his story, making connections between his legacy and the value of recreation access today.

Watch the teaser and find information about screening events below.

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Transcript

One day somebody might ask you what you know of Captain Lewis and Captain Clark, the president's Men of Discovery.

You could tell them you know a Black man who walked stride for stride, who suffered pain for pain with the greatest heroes this nation might ever know.

You tell them that my name is York. And although I was born into chains, you tell them that I am not now, no, you tell them that I have never been the property of another man.

And I ask you this, so that when I am gone from here my name, my voice, and my story does not die here with me.

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Duration:1 minute, 29 seconds

Watch a preview for Big Medicine: York Outdoors. The full-length film will be screening at sites across the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail beginning in Summer 2025, and will be available to the public on this website in November 2025.

See photos from the filming of Big Medicine: York Outdoors

Learn more about Big Medicine: The York Project

• Meet the Participants — Read about the adventurers featured in the Big Medicine: York Outdoors documentary.
• Big Medicine: The York Project — Website user analytics indicate a growing interest in York, a member of the Corps of Discovery and enslaved by Captain William Clark, who may have been the first African American to journey across the continent.
• Telling York's Story — The Lewis and Clark NHT interpretation team has embarked on a five-year, inclusive storytelling project to recenter York as a valued and integral member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Where this belongs

• Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

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