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TALLEKAWA — In 2018, after two non-native filmmakers at Blurry Pictures, Jacob Koestler and Michael McDermit, came to Oklahoma and showed interest in the Cherokee language, an idea took root.
One of the people they interviewed was Cherokee Indians United Kitua member Schon Duncan (ᎤᎶᎩᎳ), who spoke about his efforts to preserve and develop the language.
The work they did came to be known as “ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Can Talk),” a feature-length documentary detailing the efforts of those working to preserve the Cherokee language through activism, art, and education.
“I saw a lot of stuff made for the language, but it was made from an outsider’s perspective,” said Duncan, the film’s co-director. “I wanted something that was not only an intimate narrative of the people who fought to save the language, but I thought it would be really cool to also show the backbone of the language, which is our speakers, at the same time.”
Duncan said the film’s central focus is his role as a language activist and Cherokee educator in Adair County Dahlonega Public Schools; about Cherokee Nation citizen Carolyn Swepston (Ꮒ Ꭶ Ꮻ), and her work as a Cherokee language educator; and CN citizen Keli Gonzales (ᎨᎳᏗ), an artist who incorporates the Cherokee language into his work.
“It’s really about how we get support from the speakers and how the people around us who love the language support the work we’re doing today,” he said.
Gonzales is the producer of the documentary, one of many Cherokee artists featured. In addition to focusing on her art, she and her family are also featured.
“I ended up getting involved because of my family and … because my work is very language-based,” she said. “Both sets of my grandparents were speakers. I didn’t know the language. My sister was in (CN’s Cherokee Language MA/Apprenticeship program).”
As for Duncan’s part, he said he wanted to focus on UKB speakers.
“I feel like my tribe is rarely talked about,” he said. “So, I really wanted to push people in my tribe who might not feel supported. Like, ‘I like what you’re doing. I want you to be remembered. ‘”
For the Swepston part, Duncan said she offered up close contact with her family on a trip to North Carolina.
“It’s like an intimate journal of her thoughts. Like, ‘I grew up in Oklahoma. I’ve never been to North Carolina, but that’s where my people come from. Just seeing hers on camera process,” he said. “Some people were really scared to do it. But she… gave it to us and said, ‘Hey, let’s turn this into something. I think she was very brave to do it.'”
Upon seeing the film, Duncan said they tried to “preserve as much language as possible”. To do that, he added, he had to translate the Cherokee for English subtitles.
“The work is worthwhile. People can see the language in a real, natural form,” he said. “We want people to not only see people like me, Keli or Carolyn trying to get to a place they know, but we also want people to see it alive. There are still elders who share it in their communities. We want to show A living language.”
Duncan says in the film that he wants to make sure the Cherokees feel valued.
“My grandfather didn’t want to teach people Cherokee because he knew people who spoke Cherokee would have a hard time,” he said. “Seeing that I’m now able to put the language on a pedestal and the people who speak the language put it on a pedestal and say, ‘You’re valuable, you’re worthy, you’re something every Cherokee Everything that should want to be.’ That’s what I want is for people to see a real Cherokee speaker and say, ‘That’s a Cherokee.’ That’s what we should all strive to be.”
The effort behind “ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak)” was officially brought to the fore on September 13, when Kickstarter, a website that helps crowdfund creator projects, launched to help fund post-production work on the film. After just three days, the project was fully funded.
“Fantastic. That’s the coolest part,” Gonzalez said. “It’s made by the community. The community is supporting it and that’s what it’s for.”
Duncan echoed Gonzalez’s sentiments, adding that the Kickstarter project will be open until October 13.
“We’ve reached our goal, so we’re very excited, but we’re looking for ways to incentivize more donations because … there’s so much more we can do,” he said, adding that $10,000 is it “minimum”. to get it. “I don’t want to be too greedy; I just think it could be a lot more than we think.”
ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak) will be released in early 2023.
For more information or to donate, please visit kickstarter.com/projects/wewillspeak/we-will-speak.
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