The work that led Wilma Mankiller to become the first modern female Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Directors:
Writers:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 5 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Kimberly Guerrero | ... |
Wilma Mankiller
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| Mo Brings Plenty | ... |
Charlie Soap
(as Moses Brings Plenty)
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| Steve Reevis | ... |
Johnson Soap
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Darryl Tonemah | ... |
Chief Ross Swimmer
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| Zahn McClarnon | ... |
Deputy Jackson
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| Deanna Dunagan | ... |
Irene Mankiller
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Kaylea Dreadfulwater | ... |
Felicia
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Jamie Hair | ... |
Gina
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Ben Livingston | ... |
Curly
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Jeff S. Anderson | ... |
Don Musgrove
(as Jeff Anderson)
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| Oren Lyons | ... |
Judge / Grandpa
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Rich Bentz | ... |
Charlie's Boss
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Levi Mullen | ... |
Costner
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| Ross Crain | ... |
Frank
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| Cassie Self | ... |
Lisa
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David Jackson | ... |
Jack Nofire
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Orvel Baldridge | ... |
Bill - Cherokee Man
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Richard Ray Whitman | ... |
Roger - Cherokee Elder
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Teresa Davis | ... |
Pat Musgrove
(as Teresa Leach)
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S.B. Honessa | ... |
Gordon - Worn Cherokee Man
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Theresa Morris | ... |
Sue Musgrove
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Timothy Duncan | ... |
Jody's Brother
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Cindy Soap | ... |
Mae Canoe
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Johnny Farrel | ... |
Stan Johnson
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Phil Watie | ... |
Jody Anwy
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| Wayne Mitchell | ... |
Tanner
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| Doug Bauer | ... |
Dewayne Rail
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Roger Vann | ... |
George Adair
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Charlie Soap | ... |
The real Charlie Soap
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Lydia Carey | ... |
Paggy
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Virginia Carey | ... |
Rose Canoe
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| Jamie Loy | ... |
Elizabeth Canoe
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Jamie Webb | ... |
ER Nurse
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Breanna Olaya | ... |
Singing Girl
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Phoenix Ghost | ... |
Eddie (Pipeline Manager)
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Buffalo Gouge | ... |
Office visitor / Town Meeting
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| Ryker Sixkiller | ... |
Pipeline Worker
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| Angela Soldier | ... |
Federal Employee
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Directed by
| Tim Kelly | ... | (co-director) |
| Charlie Soap | ... | (co-director) |
Written by
| Louise Rubacky | ... | (written by) |
| Gary Miranda | ... | (co-writer) |
| Tim Kelly | ... | (co-writer) |
Produced by
| Ashley R. Friedman | ... | line producer |
| Paul M. Heller | ... | executive producer |
| Kristina Kiehl | ... | producer |
| Perry Pickert | ... | producer |
| Laurene Powell | ... | executive producer |
| Louise Rubacky | ... | producer |
| Claudette Silver | ... | co-producer |
| Charlie Soap | ... | producer |
Music by
| Tom Disher | ||
Cinematography by
| Lisa Leone | ||
Editing by
| Louise Rubacky | ||
Editorial Department
| Rob Bonz | ... | associate editor |
| John To | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Michelle Shining Elk | ... | (as Michelle R. Shining Elk) |
Production Design by
| Rebekah Bell | ||
Art Direction by
| Zack Hiatt | ... | special art director |
| Colin Warde | ||
Costume Design by
| Jillian Bundrick | ... | (as Jillian Donaldson) |
Makeup Department
| Shelly D'Apolito | ... | hair department head (as Shelly Price) |
| Alexandra Ford | ... | hair stylist |
| Jenn Hausam | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Jenny Hausam | ... | key hair stylist (as Jennifer Hausam) |
| J.J. Poff | ... | key makeup artist |
| Jessica Kate Sinclair | ... | assistant makeup artist |
Production Management
| Lagueria Davis | ... | assistant production manager |
| Debbie Nagata | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Larry Litton | ... | first assistant director |
| Tyler R. Mann | ... | first assistant director: second unit |
| Jeff Weiss | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Treven Bedwell | ... | property master |
| James Bishop | ... | set dresser |
| Jazz Bishop | ... | leadman |
| Chris Coursey | ... | art production assistant |
| Chris Coursey | ... | art production assistant |
| Fon Davis | ... | model supervisor: freight train art |
| Ahren Diers | ... | assistant property master / on-set dresser |
| Timothy Duncan | ... | set dresser production assistant |
| Barry Fuxa | ... | graphic designer |
| William Mankiller | ... | set dresser |
| Willard Pritchett | ... | swing production assistant |
| Roel Robles | ... | storyboard artist |
| Richard Rowlodge | ... | set dresser |
| Derek Unger | ... | swing production assistant |
| Colin Warde | ... | leadman |
Sound Department
| Marco Alicea | ... | digital transfer |
| Eric Arvai | ... | foley performer |
| James Austin | ... | engineering services (as Jim Austin) |
| Danny Caccavo | ... | digital editorial services |
| John Countryman | ... | video services |
| Doug Ford | ... | engineering services |
| Andrea Gard | ... | foley performer |
| Caleb Grimmett | ... | cable utility production assistant |
| Max Hirtenstein | ... | epk sound mixer |
| Dusty Jermier | ... | engineering services |
| Tim Song Jones | ... | boom operator |
| Mike Lane | ... | client services |
| Michael Levine | ... | digital transfer |
| Perry Levy | ... | adr recordist |
| Dmitri Makarov | ... | digital editorial services (as Dimitri Makarov) |
| Chris Manning | ... | sound effects editor |
| Daniel D. Monahan | ... | sound mixer |
| Charlotte Moore | ... | post production accountant |
| Cheryl Nardi | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Drew Oliveras | ... | recordist |
| Steve Orlando | ... | foley recordist / sound effects editor |
| Eva Porter | ... | client services |
| Gary A. Rizzo | ... | re-recording mixer (as Gary Rizzo) |
| Brad Semenoff | ... | dialogue editor |
| Royce Sharp | ... | sound mixer |
| Caleb Smith | ... | utility sound technician |
| John Torrijos | ... | video services (as John 'J.T.' Torrijos) |
| Tony Villaflor | ... | assistant re-recording mixer |
| Gwendolyn Yates Whittle | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Paul James Zahnley | ... | adr recordist |
Visual Effects by
| John Duncan | ... | model maker: Freight Train Art |
| Martin Macdonald | ... | model maker: Freight Train Art |
| Satish Ratakonda | ... | visual effects artist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| David M. Adams | ... | lighting technician |
| Michael D. Alvarez | ... | first assistant camera: additional photography |
| Keith Brown | ... | best boy grip |
| Shane Brown | ... | still photographer |
| Radium Cheung | ... | b camera operator |
| Vasiliki Constantinou | ... | electrician |
| Joseph A. Cook | ... | best boy electric |
| Jeremy D'Apolito | ... | dolly grip |
| Vahid Farzaneh | ... | assistant camera |
| Daniel Fiorito | ... | "b" camera first assistant camera |
| Chuck Gomez | ... | dit/swing second assistant cameraman |
| Jeffrey Greeley | ... | cinematographer: additional photography unit |
| Michael Heller | ... | still photographer |
| Zachary Helmer | ... | best boy electric |
| Kyle Keegan | ... | grip |
| Ning Li | ... | first assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Russell Macway | ... | grip |
| Jon Roman | ... | grip |
| Michelle Shining Elk | ... | still photographer (as Michelle R. Shining Elk) |
| Jon Shryock | ... | key grip |
| Nate Spengler | ... | second assistant camera |
| Jeff Stewart | ... | gaffer |
Casting Department
| Michelle Shining Elk | ... | extras casting (as Michelle R. Shining Elk) |
| Claudette Silver | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ashley Ann Caywood | ... | set costumer |
| Joyce Danielson | ... | costumer |
| Meredith Elaine Donaldson | ... | costumer |
| Crystal Ford | ... | costume assistant |
| Stella Pepiakithah | ... | costume assistant |
| Raven Zimmer | ... | key costumer |
Location Management
| Ty Dickson | ... | location manager: reshoots |
| Sean Patrick Eaton | ... | location manager |
| Diane Harshman | ... | location production assistant |
Music Department
| Tom Disher | ... | music editor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Bruce Resnik | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Darran Douglas | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Richard Rollison | ... | transportation coordinator |
Additional Crew
| Jon Bielich | ... | set teacher |
| Matt Bonnell | ... | set medic |
| Eric Butler | ... | set medic |
| Derrick Carey | ... | production assistant |
| Michael Cates | ... | set medic |
| Brad Clonch | ... | epk team |
| Zaco Cox | ... | production assistant |
| Daniel Dawes | ... | production assistant |
| Vivian Garcia | ... | office production assistant |
| Gloria Grim | ... | set physician |
| Jeff Hall | ... | production assistant |
| Brandi Hamill | ... | production assistant |
| Kara Johnson | ... | craft service |
| Jeromy Klinger | ... | production assistant |
| Jamie Loy | ... | stand-in/double |
| Roel Robles | ... | creative director: Freight Train Art |
| Michelle Shining Elk | ... | unit publicist (as Michelle R. Shining Elk) |
| Melanie Brooke Sweeney | ... | publicist |
| Rick Thompson | ... | epk producer |
| Andrea Walkingstick | ... | office production assistant |
| Misty Dawn White | ... | production accountant (as Misty White) |
| Erick Wilson | ... | craft service |
Thanks
| David Acord | ... | The producers wish to thank the following people and groups for their support |
| Phil Benson | ... | The producers wish to thank the following people and groups for their support |
| Brent Ryan Green | ... | special thanks |
| David Hanon | ... | special thanks |
| Leslie Ann Jones | ... | The producers wish to thank the following people and groups for their support |
| Cheryl Nardi | ... | The producers wish to thank the following people and groups for their support |
| Gary A. Rizzo | ... | The producers wish to thank the following people and groups for their support (as Gary Rizzo) |
Production Companies
- Mankiller Project
- Grey Hour Production Services (Production Service)
- Toy Gun Films (Production Services)
Distributors
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Disher Music and Sound (sound post-production)
- Oklahoma Film Commission (acknowledgement)
- Pixar Animation Studios (The producers wish to thank the following people and groups for their support)
- Skywalker Sound (Post Production Sound Services provided by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Set in the early 1980s, The Cherokee Word for Water begins in the homes of a small town in rural Oklahoma where many houses lack running water and others are little more than shacks. The movie is told from the perspective of Wilma Mankiller and full-blood Cherokee organizer Charlie Soap who join forces to battle opposition and build a 16-mile waterline system using a community of volunteers. In the process, they inspire the townspeople to trust each other, to trust their way of thinking, and to spark a reawakening of the universal indigenous values of reciprocity and interconnectedness. This project also inspired a self-help movement in Indian Country that continues to this day. The movie is dedicated to Wilma Mankiller's vision, compassion and incredible grace. Written by PP |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Never underestimate the power of a community. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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| Official Sites | |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | In 1983, Wilma Pearl Mankiller, was elected deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation. In 1987, she was the first modern day woman to be elected the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation garnering the win with 80% of the votes. Mankiller's time in office lasted over 10 years. See more » |
| Quotes |
Wilma Mankiller:
All my life I was taught to be of good mind was the Cherokee way. It sounds admirable and spiritual but it's also just plain useful. See more » |