We Will Speak poster

We Will Speak

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

10.0(1)20231h 34m1

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.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
EN
  • indigenous
  • native american
  • community
  • language
  • cherokee
  • activism
  • linguistics
  • cherokee nation
  • language revitalization
  • united keetoowah band of cherokee indians
  • eastern band of cherokee indians

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

United States of America

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Still from We Will Speak

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Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereCleveland International Film Festival23 Mar 2023
  • United KingdomGB

    • PremiereNative Spirit Film Festival23 Oct 2023
  • CanadaCA

    • PremiereDreamspeakers International Indigenous Film Festival23 Apr 2023

Frequently asked questions

We Will Speak was released on 23 March 2023.

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