TULSA, Okla. – As part of its Black History Month observance, Cherokee Nation announced its production company, Cherokee Film Productions, will soon release a feature-length documentary exploring the highly-charged topic of Cherokee Freedmen, offering a sneak peek with a first-look trailer.
Produced by the same team behind the award-winning docuseries, “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,” the film examines the Nation’s history of enslavement, which ended in 1863, and the prolonged effort by Cherokee Freedmen and their descendants to reclaim their treaty-protected right to tribal citizenship, as guaranteed in 1866.
“We will not shy away from the dark, uncomfortable parts of our history,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “If we mean to seek equality, and true and lasting change, we must recognize our failures and seek to understand and share the story of the Cherokee Freedmen. This is a commitment we will not take lightly and one that we hope will result in the healing of a Nation and a future together built on trust and respect.”
Co-directed by Cherokee Nation citizens Jen Loren and Melissa Payne, the team consulted with the tribe’s Freedmen advisory committee, ensuring accurate and respectful portrayals of the history and legacy of Cherokee freedmen.
“This documentary is raw, emotional, difficult and honest. It honors the sacrifices of our ancestors while celebrating the fact that we are now united as one people,” said Freedmen Community Liaison Melissa Payne. “I could not be more grateful for the work that is being done on behalf of the Cherokee Freedmen and their descendants, and for the way Chief Hoskin has ensured this effort will continue. The Freedmen story continues to unfold, and we are Cherokee.”
The trailer premiered Feb. 16 at OSU-Tulsa, where tribal leaders and community members gathered in recognition of Black History Month. The documentary is described as an international journey, following descendants of freed slaves as they unpack their unique identities and uncover and explore the buried history of Cherokee Freedmen as the tribe works to heal the deep scars of slavery.
The documentary is grounded in years of research and is shaped by the insights of Cherokee historians Dr. Julie Reed, Jack Baker and Marilynn Vann; alongside historian and academic scholar Tiya Miles, of Harvard University.
“Being entrusted with this story is a profound honor — as a filmmaker and, more importantly, as a fellow Cherokee,” said Loren, who also serves as senior director of Cherokee Film. “It reflects the very reason Indigenous storytelling matters. Together, we are sharing the Freedmen story through the voices of their descendants, capturing their emotional journey as they reconnect with their history and heritage in real time.”
Cherokee Film Productions is planning a fall premiere on the festival circuit, with hopes for subsequent worldwide distribution.
