“ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak)” Movie Review
Al Stone-Gebhardt February 1, 2024
Throughout history, humans have stood on stolen land. Few are more keenly aware of this than the citizens of Asheville, who understand that this land is not theirs.
Within the past decade, the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes — the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in North Carolina (N.C.), the Cherokee Nation of Tahlequah (CN) in Oklahoma (O.K.) and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKT), also in Oklahoma (O.K.) — have declared a state of emergency regarding the Cherokee language, Tsalagi. Maintained by the tri-council, the Cherokee people are losing language speakers faster than they are gaining them. But why are the numbers so critically low, and why is this loss a concern in indigenous communities?
One prominent look into this issue is the documentary “ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak.)” Co-directed by Schon Duncan and Michael McDermit, the film provides an in-depth peek into a long-overlooked community — one whose culture has been stripped away in the media landscape.
This film is a significant contribution to cinema, wherein the indigenous representation is often misrepresented or overlooked altogether (see "Pocahontas", "Twilight" and "The Ridiculous Six"). “We Will Speak” offers a platform for Cherokee individuals to share their stories, helping carve out a name for itself with authenticity and appreciation.
Additionally, “We Will Speak” diversifies narratives that are often confused in mainstream film and television, addressing broader social issues — such as the idea of indigenous culture as a monolith.
The film follows the efforts of tribe members from the CN, UKT and EBCI, working tirelessly to guarantee Tsalagi does not disappear.
It combines modern as well as historical Cherokee communities, presenting a diverse, educational insight with a strong emotional touch. Experiences from artists like CN member Keli Gonzales and community educators like CN member Betty Frogg — who recalls having the language stripped from her — present a powerful tale of how we lose culture over time.
Like a traditional basket, the strands intricately woven together, so too is the Cherokee language tied with identity.
Tsalagi is a crucial aspect of Cherokee heritage. Speaking the language symbolizes more than preserving stories and engaging in conversation; it is a way of seeing the world, according to EBCI citizen TJ Holland.
Professor Dallas Pettigrew, a clinical assistant professor and the director of the Center for Tribal Social Work at the University of Oklahoma (OU) and CN citizen, describes the link between the Cherokee language and how tribe members view the world around them.
“There are so many words in the Cherokee language that don't have English counterparts,” Pettigrew said. “And Cherokee words are very long because each syllable in the Cherokee language has an entire meaning. If we can just try to begin to see the world the way that our language presents it to us, it shifts the way we think about everything: relationships, possessions, the future, the past, life and death, ancestors, in all directions. Our language is so powerful in how it frames our communications to incorporate thoughtfulness about history and the future.”
This is just one of the reasons why promoting the language is so critical. Accounts from people like Holland and Pettigrew go above and beyond while blending the rich and disappointingly unexplored culture of the three Cherokee tribes.
Moreover, the people-centered approach of the documentary relays just how significant the loss of speakers is to the Cherokee community, adding depth to the gravitas of the situation and the importance of revitalization efforts.
Perhaps one of the most crucial aspects of a documentary like “We Will Speak” is the cultural context and representation. These personal accounts create a strong, emotional connection that resonates with both Cherokee communities and the wider audience. In addition, they raise awareness about the factors contributing to language loss and garner support.
Furthermore, Pettigrew confirms just how significant this loss is. He discusses how the language is a tool that connects Cherokee people to their culture.
“[Cherokee people have] not grown up hearing the language or being part of traditional child-rearing practices,” Pettigrew said. “Traditional foods or medicines — even sex, gender roles, things like that. [To me,] elevating the language is a powerful step toward helping people identify with the things that make them culturally distinct.”
Above all, the threatened state of the Cherokee language endangers the very essence of the people connected to it.
In the film, individuals from all three tribes described the brutality their ancestors — or even they themselves — faced through boarding schools, deriving a connection between the generational trauma and the loss of language. How could they teach their children and grandchildren the language when schoolmasters beat Cherokee students for using it, and they were imbued with the idea that it ostracized them, making Cherokee individuals a target?
I found it critical that context proffered through personal as well as historical narratives allowed viewers of all backgrounds to engage with the story. This historical context reinforced just how vital efforts to save the language are.
In the film, the audience follows Carolyn Swepston, a member of the CN who upends her life in O.K. to travel to the Cherokee birthplace in Cherokee, N.C..
Pettigrew additionally unfolds his own experience traveling to Cherokee, N.C. and northern Georgia as a Cherokee man. He describes just how emotional it was for him.
“I can see it all in my mind,” Pettigrew said. “I can see the rocks, I can see the vegetation, I can hear it, I can feel the air. The only way I can ever explain how I reacted to that experience was that there was something about it that felt like home. And not a home I'd ever lived in, on, near, around or been even exposed to. But there was some part of me — something deep, something based in me."
Many non-indigenous viewers fear they cannot connect to this fundamentally crucial aspect of this film, but I found the opposite to be true.
The cinematography invites all into the cultural homelands of various Cherokee communities. The audience is allowed into intimate spaces, such as Gonzales’ grandparent’s home, or the porch of CN Tsalagi translator, David Crawler’s, home. Whether in a prominent or private space, the camera work expertly captures the splendor of Cherokee landscapes.
On top of that, the way “We Will Speak” captures emotions and translates them into the big screen is inarguably one of this film’s biggest strengths.
The ensemble cast follows people from all walks of life brought together by an urgency to save the language. This is where the true emotional weight of the story falls. The lived experiences of people like Gonzales, Frogg, Holland and Crawler, as well as a plethora of community members, display a moving story of resilience.
Two major themes of the film revolve around the prosperity of the language, as well as the history behind its endangerment. From the importance of preserving culture and tradition to strength in the face of adversity, the film is perfectly nuanced and intimate in its approach to the multifaceted Cherokee experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed that the film did not shy away from the trauma suffered at the hands of colonizers who sought to strip indigenous people of their distinctiveness — this was a breath of fresh air compared to what history books “teach” Americans about government-tribal relations.
This is just one way "We Will Speak" commands the audience's attention. Tsalagi is not just a means of communication but is the cornerstone of Cherokee cultural identity; it is resiliency, an expression of the distinct culture of the three tribes.
An advocate for saving the language as well, Pettigrew echoes many perspectives portrayed in the film.
“I don't even know if there are words to express how I felt [visiting Cherokee],” Pettigrew stated. “I can't even think of how to say it. Because, the language, the land, it's not just history, it's not just ancestry—it's origin."
I hope the documentary resonates with others as it did with me, and that the historical injustices reach the right audience. If anywhere—why not in Asheville, where the birthplace of the Cherokee people is just a drive away?
“We Will Speak” attests to the perseverance of the Cherokee people, culture, and traditions. It is more than a documentary; it is a call to action for cultural proliferation. Through revitalization efforts, the three Cherokee tribes ensure that their communities not only speak Tsalagi but that their culture echoes far into the future.