New Documentary on the Cherokee Freedmen
Cherokee Nation announced its Cherokee Film Productions is planning to release a feature-length documentary on the topic of Cherokee Freedman.
The film discusses the Cherokee Nation’s history of enslavement and the effort by the Cherokee Freedman to reclaim their tribal-citizenship. It is being co-directed by Cherokee Nation citizens Jen Loren and Melissa Payne.
“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,” Payne said in a press release. “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 documentary has been thoroughly researched with Cherokee historians, Dr. Juliee Reed, Jack Baker, Marilynn Vann and Harvard historian and scholar Tiya Miles. The documentary is produced by the same team who created the award-winning film Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People.
The trailer premiered at Oklahoma State University on Feb. 16, and the full film is expected to premiere in the fall of 2026 on the festival circuit.
Watch the trailer:
