Watch Saved By Language

Saved By Language is a documentary film released in 2015 that tells the story of Marie Wilcox, a 81-year-old Native American woman from the central valley of California who created a dictionary of her native language, Wukchumni. Directed by filmmaker Gabriel Serra Argüello and co-produced by PBS, the film chronicles Marie's inspiring journey to preserve her endangered language and culture.

The film opens with stunning landscape shots of the central valley accompanied by Marie's voice talking about her love for the land and her connection to it. We then see Marie going about her daily routine, tending to her garden, cooking traditional dishes, and spending time with her family. It's immediately apparent that Marie is a deeply spiritual person who values tradition and community.

The film then delves into the history of the Wukchumni people, their relationship with the land, and the impact colonization has had on their culture. Marie explains how boarding schools, which Native American children were forcibly taken to in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, served to strip them of their culture and language. Many of Marie's own family members were taken to these schools, and as a result, the Wukchumni language was on the brink of extinction.

Determined to do something about it, Marie began working on a dictionary of the Wukchumni language in the 1990s. She started by writing down the words and phrases she knew, but soon realized she needed to do more research. She visited other tribes who spoke similar languages, she went to archives and libraries, and she sought out elders who still remembered the language. It was a labor of love, and it took her over 7 years to complete the dictionary.

Throughout the film, we see Marie's interactions with her family, elders, and members of her community. We also see her teaching her language to a group of young people who are eager to learn. It's heartwarming to see the enthusiasm and dedication of these young people, many of whom are the first in their families to learn the language.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is its use of stunning visuals to highlight the importance of the land to the Wukchumni people. The camera lingers on the rolling hills, the oak trees, and the meandering rivers, and we see how important these things are to the Wukchumni way of life. The film also features beautiful animations of the animals and plants that are part of the Wukchumni creation story.

In addition to interviewing Marie and members of her community, the film features interviews with linguists and scholars who discuss the importance of preserving endangered languages. They explain how language is not just a means of communication, but also a way of understanding the world and our place in it. They also talk about how languages hold knowledge and insights that can be lost forever if they are not preserved.

Saved By Language is a moving and inspiring film that sheds light on the importance of preserving endangered languages and cultures. Through the story of Marie Wilcox and the Wukchumni people, we see how vital it is to keep traditions alive and pass them on to future generations. The film is a testament to the power of language and the resilience of indigenous communities in the face of historical trauma and cultural erasure.