DIGADOHI: Lands, Cherokee, and the Trail of Tears

1 X 60 Documentary Film - FORTHCOMING - SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019!

DIGADOHI means lands in Cherokee and the story of their removal is recorded in the documents and archaeology at places along the Trail of Tears like the Snelson-Brinker farm in Missouri, and in the traditions and family histories of the Cherokee today. July 4th, 2017 the historic Snelson-Brinker cabin was burnt to the ground. A witness site to ethnic cleansing, the farm is one of the few sites on the Trail of Tears to be studied. Using cutting edge archaeological methods, STEM, and archival research, a group of community activists and Cherokee leaders work to rescue a historic property from the arsonist's flames and identify the graves of the Cherokee who died there.

Native American Heritage Program

The Missouri Humanities Council partnered with the producers and funded the film, as part of its comprehensive Native American Heritage Program, which supports programs and projects that increase our understanding of the American Indian experience in Missouri through preservation, interpretation, and public programming. The MHC has been working for several years in partnership with the Cherokee Nation, the National Trails of Tears Association and the Missouri chapter, and the National Park Service, to identify and interpret the Trail of Tears through Missouri.

Official Selection of the Tribal Film Festival (Aug 24, 2019)

Film Credits

Produced and Directed by: Monty Dobson
Co-Executive Producer: Andrew D. Devenney 
Co-Producer: Joshua D. Koenig
Written by: Monty Dobson, Deborah Taffa, Joshua D. Koenig, and Andrew D. Devenney
Edited by: Monty Dobson and Daniel J. Bracken
Original Music Composed by: Christian Groves
Cinematography: William Stone, Patrick Mureithi
Aerial Cinematography: Justin Renaud, Judd Slivka
Titles and Visual Graphics: Ryan S. Smith