We Will Speak

We Will Speak

With fewer than 1,500 fluent speakers left, a small group of Cherokee activists race to save their language from disappearing.

2023 en 94 minutes

Rating: 10

Plot

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.

Trailer

Cast

Keli Gonzales

Keli Gonzales

Self

Carolyn Swepston

Carolyn Swepston

Self

Schon Duncan

Schon Duncan

Self

Marion Scraper

Marion Scraper

Self

Eda Scraper

Eda Scraper

Self

Durbin Feeling

Durbin Feeling

Self

Clifton Petit

Clifton Petit

Self

Weynema Smith

Weynema Smith

Self

David Crawler

David Crawler

Self

Betty Frogg

Betty Frogg

Self

Clara Proctor

Clara Proctor

Self

Cora Flute

Cora Flute

Self

Gil Jackson

Gil Jackson

Self

Oleta Pritchett

Oleta Pritchett

Self

Bo Lossiah

Bo Lossiah

Self

Marlene Ballard

Marlene Ballard

Self

Ann Arneach

Ann Arneach

Self

Gary Wayne Vann

Gary Wayne Vann

Self

Howard Paden

Howard Paden

Self

Colby Luper

Colby Luper

Self

Ernestine Berry

Ernestine Berry

Self

Ryan Mackey

Ryan Mackey

Self

Krystan Moser

Krystan Moser

Self

Dehaluyi Gonzales

Dehaluyi Gonzales

Self

Ashlyn Fullerton

Ashlyn Fullerton

Self

Agalisiga Mackey

Agalisiga Mackey

Self

Olivia Wildcat

Olivia Wildcat

Self

TJ Holland

TJ Holland

Self

JP Johnson

JP Johnson

Self

Lukas Swepston

Lukas Swepston

Self

Dakota Brown

Dakota Brown

Self

Carney Duncan

Carney Duncan

Self

Andrew Swepston

Andrew Swepston

Self

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