Oyate Woyaka (The People Speak)
A feature length documentary following fluent Lakota speakers as they embrace their language and spirituality to heal from historical trauma.
Interview with Director Bryant High Horse
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
This film is being made to give fluent Lakota speakers a platform to express their point of view on a wide variety of topics. From their treatment throughout history to repatriation and healing as well as their visions for the future.
I had a long conversation with my nephew, George McAuliffe and he agreed to help us make this documentary. He is also an educator who has been working in film and television. We are on the same wavelength and collaborate on all aspects of this film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Most Americans know that the history of the United States includes horrific atrocities and genocide committed against Native Americans. Many believe that this is in the past and therefore cannot be changed or fixed. Oyate Woyaka is determined to show that we can still move into a new, healthier paradigm together. We will show how the past affects the present whether you view it from a western or a native perspective.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We bring fluent speakers who carry the traditional Lakota culture together for conversations. We are connected to a spiritual past because many of us were taught by elders growing up. They gave us instructions for how to live a spiritual life guided by prayer.
We break away and follow us in our community working with the younger generations. This allows the elders to feel as natural and as comfortable as possible. We try to keep the film authentic and show the deep culture. Not the surface/performative culture. This allows the audience to connect to the universal humanity of family and service in the community.
This film is dedicated to all people in the world experiencing life through the lens of oppression; providing a platform, message, and an opportunity to help raise awareness to a larger audience that we are all connected.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The film started with a fluent speaker talking circle but has grown to include more people, different ages and nations. This summer, we were invited to document the historical return of the remains of 9 boarding school children from Carlisle Boarding School, back to Rosebud for ceremony and burial. That is now the center of our story and explaining to the audience how our language is fading.
Most of the elders in our film attended boarding school. They were able keep their language but still struggle at times with this trauma.
Now we are exploring three different themes and showing how they are connected. The history through the Lakota lens and experience. Repatriation of human remains and stolen artifacts in hopes of healing. And finally, putting a spotlight on all of the tireless effort members of the community are engaged in to lead the young people into a more promising future. An example of that Lakota immersion schools.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have received positive feedback. The intentions are pure and all of our funding goes back into the film and community. We hope people outside of the community will be open to this story because we believe that everything is connected and that includes dominant American culture. Political division and climate crisis can benefit from our way of viewing life in a circle, not a competitive hierarchy.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not yet but we appreciate the outpouring of support.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We have a long way to go to get this film made. We would love for help producing and distributing our film. We are running a Kickstarter through the month of November (http://kck.st/3Bwp7QW)and would love for anyone who sees this to donate. We also encourage those who connect to our film to share it with others.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We need all hands on deck. Any and all help is appreciated. Producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors. Anyone who can help us connect our story to more people. We embrace support and need help. At this stage, we would like journalists to cover our story and Kickstarter campaign.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We are looking to show the country and world at large, how valuable the indigenous perspective is. We would like to lead a new generation into this paradigm of thought that walks with our language and in balance with the natural world and does not engage in hierarchy.
They say you can tell how healthy a language is by how many young people are speaking. We want to see more young people speaking Lakota and other indigenous languages around the world.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What would it feel like to know your language holds balance and respect for everything that moves, yet it is slowly fading? To turn on the TV and see climate change, resource extraction, divisive political rhetoric and billionaires flying to space while life on earth suffers. Not just human life, but all life. What if that language held a spirituality so strong that it enables you to remain optimistic and hopeful? Would you listen?
Would you like to add anything else?
The importance of indigenous languages can no longer be undervalued. In addition to helping the community heal from historical trauma, the revitalization of indigenous languages is essential for ensuring the continuation and transmission of culture, customs, and history. Lakota can also be used to address biodiversity loss and climate change. The Lakota language holds deep connections to everything that moves, connections that were developed over thousands of years. With your support, we can give essential voices of traditional elders a platform to tell their story.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
All of our focus is going into this project.
We do hope to support more indigenous communities in the near future.
Interview: November 2021
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Oyate Woyaka (The People Speak)
Length:
1:26
Writer/Director/Producer
Bryant High Horse and George McAuliffe
Bryant High Horse Jr. Has been a cultural warrior his entire life. He shares his knowledge, philosophy and language by educating younger generations and Lakota children.
George McAuliffe is former educator in Chicago and continues to work towards social change through filmmaking endeavors.
Bryant and George work on a similar frequency and are in constant collaboration in all aspects of this film.
Looking for:
journalists
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/Oyate-Woyaka-Film-107079161779376
https://twitter.com/oyatewoyaka
https://www.instagram.com/oyatewoyakaproductions/
Hashtags used:
#OyateWoyakaFilm #LakotaDoc #indigenouspeoplesmonth #Language #NativeAmerican #Indigenous #NativeAmericans #IndigenousPeople #Lakota #IndigenousRights #NativeAmericanHistory#IndigenousCulture #IndigenousMade #IndigenousAmerican #IndigenousLand #IndigenousHistory #IndigenousUnited #AmericanIndianMovement #Ogalalakota #IndigenousFilm #LakotaForever #IndigenousCultures #ProtectIndigenousPeople #LanguagePreservation #LakotaTribe #IndigenousFilms #LakotaLanguage #LakotaCulture #IndigenousDocumentary