On Broken Country

Director Statement

On Broken Country dives into the history of landlocked public lands, showing how western migration, settlement and public policy led to 15.87 million acres of inaccessible state and federal land. As Seigfried explains, the sheer magnitude of the problem wasn’t fully realized until onX conducted a 2018 survey and analysis of landlocked public lands.

The West and its public lands have always been at the center of passionate debates between those who depend on them for their livelihoods, from indigenous peoples and farmers to ranchers and hunters and anglers. But as the film illustrates, the legacy of the West also tells a story of neighbors coming together to solve problems and support each other when the going gets tough. As cities grow and wild places disappear, protecting public lands becomes an issue that everyone should rally behind.

Deep connection to the land and the spirit of cooperation is at the heart of onX’s public land access mission – to unlock public lands for hunters and anglers while also benefiting local landowners. Making sure everyone can enjoy our public lands creates more voices to advocate for their preservation. That’s why onX has made a commitment to help protect and expand access for all Americans. Progress has been made, but there’s more work to be done to reopen the West’s wild, broken country.