We Will Speak

Story

Synopsis

The Cherokee language is deeply tied to Cherokee identity; yet generations of assimilation efforts by the U.S. government and anti-Indigenous stigmas have forced the Tri-Council of Cherokee tribes to declare a State of Emergency for the language in 2019. While there are 430,000 Cherokee citizens in the three federally recognized tribes, fewer than an estimated 2,000 fluent speakers remain—the majority of whom are elderly. The covid pandemic has unfortunately hastened the course. Language activists, artists, and the youth must now lead the charge of urgent radical revitalization efforts to help save the language from the brink of extinction.

Directors

Michael McDermit, Schon Duncan

Language

English

Country

United States of America

Release date

23 March 2023

Ensemble

Cast

• Keli Gonzales

  Self

• Carolyn Swepston

  Self

• 

  Schon Duncan

  Self

• Marion Scraper

  Self

• Eda Scraper

  Self

• Durbin Feeling

  Self

• Clifton Petit

  Self

• Weynema Smith

  Self

• David Crawler

  Self

• Betty Frogg

  Self

• Clara Proctor

  Self

• Cora Flute

  Self