Kansas State University, in collaboration with the Kaw Nation and the Kansas Studies Institute at Johnson County Community College, has produced the documentary Creator Gives Us Language: A Story of Rematriating Kaáⁿze Íe. This film focuses on the Kaw Nation’s efforts to revive their native language, Kaáⁿze Íe, as part of the Kansas Land Treaties Project, which aims to share the history of Kansas and the Kanza people.

The documentary features insights from James Pepper Henry, vice chair of the Kaw Nation, and Desiree Storm Brave, director of the Kaw Nation Language and Revitalization Program, highlighting the language’s decline and its revitalization efforts. Brave emphasizes the importance of reclaiming cultural practices for the current generation.

Upcoming films in the series will cover the historical treaties between the Kaw and the U.S. government and the flooding of Washunga, Oklahoma, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s. These documentaries aim to honor Indigenous histories and promote understanding of the region’s past.

Creator Gives Us Language premiered on Oct. 14 at K-State as part of Indigenous Peoples Day. The Kansas Land Treaties Project also includes educational materials to enhance awareness of Indigenous histories, with support from various academic and cultural organizations.

You can watch the documentary here.