Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, May 5: In a powerful show of solidarity with the Tibetan community, the city of Columbia Heights in Minnesota, has officially proclaimed May 3, 2025, as “Four Rivers Six Ranges Day: A Tribute to Tibetan Defiance and Dignity.” The proclamation was announced during the world premiere of Four Rivers Six Ranges, a Tibetan feature film documenting the legacy of resistance and cultural perseverance, held at the historic Heights Theater.
Directed by filmmaker Shenpenn Khymsar, Four Rivers Six Ranges tells the story of the Chushi Gangdruk resistance, a grassroots movement formed in 1958 by ordinary Tibetans determined to protect their homeland from China’s military occupation. The group played a crucial role in ensuring the safe escape of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama into exile in 1959.
The premiere comes ahead of the 90th birthday of His Holiness in 2025 and serves as both a cultural celebration and a tribute to his unwavering advocacy for nonviolence, human rights, and Tibetan identity during more than six decades in exile.
The proclamation, issued by Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula, highlighted the resilience of the Tibetan people, stating, “Despite decades of repression, religious persecution, and cultural erasure, Tibetans have preserved their language, spiritual traditions, and identity with unwavering strength.” She further emphasized the importance of standing with those who “resist injustice with courage, compassion, and hope.”
Created entirely by Tibetans in exile, the film resonates as a call for global solidarity and a testament to the enduring strength of a people whose struggle for freedom transcends borders, the proclamation further stated.
Columbia Heights, home to over 6,000 Tibetan refugees, many of whom reside in the Twin Cities area, was chosen as the premiere location in recognition of the community’s significant cultural contributions. The Heights Theater was filled beyond capacity, with attendees visibly moved by the tribute and the powerful storytelling on screen.
Director Shenpenn Khymsar expressed heartfelt appreciation for the honor, dedicating the proclamation not only to the film and the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday but also to Tibetans across the globe and the brave Chushi Gangdruk fighters. “This is for our nation and our people,” he said, crediting Tibetan activist Jigme Ugen and the six Tibetan associations of Minnesota for making the event possible.
