Over the past five years a small band of artists and activists from Montana have chronicled the life and times of those in Colombia hardest hit by war and poverty.

Recently returned from her third trip to Colombia, activist Katie Knight of Helena will join three others in leading a public presentation, "U.S. War in Colombia; Repression and Resistance."

The presentation deals with their latest trip to Colombia and areas hit hardest by the ongoing struggle in regions of that country, including Arauca.

"We have a more educated population here in Helena since we've started these talks," Knight said. "The social movement in Colombia is still alive. But I'd like to see a stronger social movement here and to see people more involved in social policy."

Knight accompanied Scott Nicholson, Jessica Letke and Erin Thompson on the latest trip to visit with union leaders, peasant leaders and other Colombian human rights workers.

"The people who are being killed are the community organizers," Knight said. "They're targeted for assassination because they pose a threat to the profits of the oil companies."

Knight noted that Colombia is the eighth-largest supplier of oil to the U.S. -- an effort led by Occidental Petroleum. She added that by studying Colombia one might recognize similar patterns emerging in U.S. foreign policy in Iraq.

"Native people and farmers in Colombia and around the world are under attack by corporations greedy for resources," Knight said. "These corporations dominate U.S. foreign and domestic policies."

Knight has been studying the U.S. involvement in Colombia since 1999. And while she didn't make her first visit to that country until 2001, she came away from her experience alarmed by the violence she had witnessed.

Five years after her first visit, Knight said the effort of such groups as the Colombia Support Network are paying off, though the group's fight is a long way from being over.

"I think we've had a big impact in Helena and Montana," Knight said. "We're raising the conciousness. That doesn't mean that it's all progress, but it's because of our support that the social movement in Colombia is still alive."

Knight also turned to art to help her cope with the stories she and others have collected in Colombia. To her, they are stories of tragedy and corporate corruption, many of which can be read at her web site (www.katieknight.net).

"My photography is documentary in nature," Knight said. "It gives a human face to those who are impacted. They're faces of courageous people defending their lives."

The Montana Human Rights and Colombia Support networks have taken their message across the state in a variety of mediums, including speaking tours, slide shows and art displays.

Aside from her photography, Knight also works in sculptures. She was recently in Great Falls hanging a new series at Paris Gibson Square that represents Colombia's nearly 4 million internal refugees.

"The sculptors are playful and beautiful and I love making them," Knight said. "It helps keep me from going insane after taking so much depressing testimony. The art is intended to draw people in."

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or at helenair.com">mkidston@helenair.com