Title from title frames

In 1821, Sequoyah completed the Cherokee syllabary, the first written language developed on the North American continent. The Cherokee language is deeply tied to Cherokee identity, yet in 2019 the tri-council of Cherokee tribes declared it to be in a state of emergency after generations of assimilation efforts by the US government, as well as anti-Indigenous stigma. Fewer than an estimated 2000 fluent speakers— the majority of whom are elderly— remain amongst the 430,000 Cherokee citizens in the three federally recognized tribes.(WE WILL SPEAK) highlights the critical work of language activists, artists, youth, and elders who are now leading a growing movement of urgent radical revitalization efforts to help save the Cherokee language from the brink of extinction. The film also delves into the history of the Cherokee syllabary, the destructive assimilationist legacy of boarding schools, the lasting impacts of the Trail of Tears, and the ways in which members of the Cherokee tribe reconcile their relationship to American identity

Film

In Process Record

Originally produced by Video Project in 2023

Mode of access: World Wide Web