The Cherokee Word for Water Movie
Honoring the legacy of Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller
Set in the early 1980s, The Cherokee Word for Water was inspired by the true story of the struggle to bring running water to the rural, full-blood Cherokee community of Bell, Oklahoma. The movie is told from the perspective of Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, and Charlie Soap, a full-blood Cherokee organizer and community advocate. By using the Cherokee concept of gadugi—working together to solve a problem—the success of the Bell waterline sparked a movement of similar self-help projects across Indian country that continues to this day. The film was shot on location in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in September and October 2011 and was released in 2012. Silver Muse Productions worked with the film’s producers to raise funds for the film and develop a community engagement strategy for its release. CONTENT DEVELOPMENT / FUNDRAISING PLAN / EVENT PRODUCTION
