As a
Cherokee citizen, actress and writer,
I have always wanted to travel in my ancestors’ footsteps along the Trail of
Tears
and
find a way to share this legacy and the impact it has on all of us. This June, my father and I will travel the Northern Route collecting
stories and insights of the communities along the way. It’s a tale about a
road trip, family, heritage, and an inside perspective on a forgotten part of
our shared American history.
We have partnered with Kenan Institute for the Arts and have 75% of our budget! We need your help for the
remaining 25%.
What
will you do with this money?
What will you do with all these stories?
Glad
you asked ;) These stories will be compiled into a live theatrical experience
that will then tour the same route. We have lodging, airfare, ground
transportation, artists’ fees and film gear covered. Help us cover day-to-day
expenses of our three-person team and fund a
two-weeks artist’s residency so that I can structure the material we collect
into one of the most important works I will ever create.
Six-weeks of food adds up!
Your contribution of:
$60 will buy the team dinner!
$30 will buy us lunch for a day.
$15 will give us our much needed morning coffee!
And for your contribution,
you will get:
Wes Studi (Actor Avatar, Last of the Mohicans, Mystery Men) will leave you a personalized voicemail. He’s agreed to three!!!
Cherokee Award winning artist Joseph Erb’s armbands
Cherokee language lessons with my dad Thomas
Studie (Two 15- minute coaching sessions via phone.) He doesn't have a link, but trust me, he's awesome!
Postcards from the Trail of Tears (in English
and Cherokee)!
Thank You notes in Cherokee (with English
translation) and our eternal gratitude!
Public Thank You’s on ALL
of our social media pages!
Other ways you can help:
Regardless if we reach our
goal, my main objective is to make sure my father and our documentarian Jesse Abdenour are taken care of as we travel these 990 miles.
Any amount is greatly
appreciated. If you cannot contribute monetarily, please help us promote this
campaign by sharing it on your social media pages.
We would like to thank the following for their support and partnership:
The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, Autry National Center, Native Voices Theater Company, Process Series - UNC Chapel Hill, National Trail of Tears Association, Unto These Hills, American Indian Center at UNC - Chapel Hill, The Study of the American South at UNC - Chapel Hill, The Junaluska Museum, The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and The Remember The Removal Bike Ride.
