Summer Screening and Outdoor Table: ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (WE WILL SPEAK)

Join Forge Project on Saturday, June 22 from 6:30-9:30pm for a screening and shared meal revolving around the turn of the summer season and the interdependence of food, place, and language. Hosted outside (weather permitting), we will offer an assortment of grilled seasonal veggies, local meats, fresh salsa, and handmade tortillas prepared at our outdoor kitchen around 7:30pm.

Guests are invited to bring folding chairs or a blanket and enjoy their meal alongside an 8pm screening of ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (WE WILL SPEAK), the first feature film by 2024 Forge Project Fellow, Schon Duncan (United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians) on the grass amidst our newly seeded meadow.

Schon Duncan (ᎤᎶᎩᎳ), a citizen of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, is a filmmaker, writer, actor, and language activist. As a product of early language work by elders, Duncan's journey has been deeply rooted in community engagement, arts, and education. After a stint of youth work in Tulsa, Duncan returned to northeastern Oklahoma to immerse themselves in the Cherokee language through the Cherokee Language Master-Apprentice Program.

Their commitment to language revitalization led them to Dahlonegah Public School, where they promote and teach the Cherokee language and lifeways to students of all ages. A multifaceted artist, Duncan's recent accomplishments include the directorial debut of the documentary ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak) and voicework in ᎢᎾᎨᎢ (In The Woods). Duncan is dedicated to facilitating Cherokee youth culture through various film and artistic endeavors. Their work is a steadfast commitment to revitalizing the Cherokee language while guiding future generations through art and mentorship.

Forge Project charges a sliding scale fee for events and recommends direct donations in the amount of your choosing to the Cultural Affairs Department at the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. For more information on our fee structure, please see our Eventbrite page. Please RSVP for address and complete driving directions.

Watch the trailer here.

Stills from ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak), A Feature-Length Documentary. Directed By ᎤᎶᎩᎳ / Schon Duncan and Michael McDermit, Executive Produced by Wes Studi. Year of Release: 2023. Runtime: 94 minutes. Languages: Cherokee & English (w/ English Subtitles)