A new Cherokee language animated series is set to premiere this weekend during Cherokee National Holiday's drive-in movie night.
The new series Inage'i or In the Woods features four animal superheroes having adventures, playing tricks on each other and just having fun... all in Cherokee
Inage'i is part of Cherokee Nation's renewed efforts to preserve and protect the language. Last year, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. passed the Durbin Feeling Language Preservation Act-named after Durbin Feeling, one of the Cherokee Nation's most celebrated and revered speakers. Feeling passed away in August.
Fire Thief Productions collaborated with Cherokee Nation's Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program and hired all Oklahoma voice talent and animators to make the pilot.
Cherokee artist Roy Boney Jr. created the animation along with Creative Filter. Cora Flute wrote and performed the lyrics for the theme song along with Cherokee Youth Choir. Composer Kawnar also collaborated with the musicians.
Cherokee Nation citizens Harry Oosahwee, Lauren Hummingbird and United Keetoowah Band citizen Schon Duncan were cast as voice actors.
Fellow Cherokee Nation citizen Betty Frogg plays Iga Daya’i the mischievous rabbit, character in Inage'i. Frogg is a Cherokee first language speaker who grew up in Stillwell in Adair County. She said she was excited to get the part.
"Oh, my gosh, I was more than happy when I heard I had got the part," said Frogg. "Because I had always wanted somebody to do a cartoon in our language and basically focusing on our kids and our second language learners."
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. estimates there are less than 3,000 Cherokee first language speakers left.
