EDGE is a documentary-in-production chronicling the struggle to preserve the language and culture of the Indigenous population of America and pass that heritage on to younger generations in order to save the Native spirit. We’re currently looking for funding to complete principal photography and then head into post.

All imagery on this site is currently for illustrational purposes only. Many images are not owned by the creators of this documentary. The video on the home page is from the National Geographic. The image that may load in its place is a Navajo sand painting depicting the Monster Slayer Nayenezgani.

everything starts with language.

On average, an Indigenous language dies somewhere in the world every 14 days.

According to UNESCO.ORG's Atlas of Endangered Languages 2010, there are 192 languages in the United States of America that are in danger of going extinct. They're nearly all Native American languages. When the language disappears, so do the stories, history, and wisdom of an entire people.

As these cultures are being wiped out, Native Americans in the United States of America face an epidemic of suicide and addiction rates far outweighing anything suffered by other ethnicities in this country, particularly in the youth, from whom the language and culture of their people is willfully being kept.

"Major Linguistic Groups" of North and Central America.

it's as if the massacre never ended. because it didn't.

Join us as we work to create a documentary about the race against the clock to save the San Ildefonso Pueblo's Tewa language, considered to be severely endangered by UNESCO, as only 12 of the elders who learned it as their first language, and thus have the most pure knowledge of it, are still alive. We'll also talk to people of the Navajo Nation about how the lack of their language has affected them, as well as their decision to keep the language and culture from their own children.

Image from the Sunrise House, an addiction treatment facility, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

From the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

CONCEPT LOOKBOOK

The Land

This is the land where Native Americans originally thrived. We want to showcase the land in a way that displays its majesty in a way that exemplifies why the Native Americans are so dedicated to protecting it.

Interior of a kiva, or room for religious ceremonies, in New Mexico.

The Totems, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona / Utah. From here .

Multistoried Pueblo structure in Taos, New Mexico. From https://www.terragalleria.com/america/new-mexico/taos/picture.usnm43795.html

Shiprock, New Mexico by Mike Taylor. From here .

Puya Pueblo, Santa Clara Reservation, New Mexico. From here .

Kiva, or a room for religious rituals, at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. From here .

Overlooking Monument Valley From Hunt’s Mesa, Arizona.

The People

When you can put a face to an issue, you show the humanity that's being affected. The People are the heart and soul of this documentary. They are losing their traditions, languages, stories, and so much more at an alarming rate. They face innumerable hardships. And still, there is a spark of hope.

Kanghi Duta, also known as Floyd Red Crow Westerman , was an actor, musician, and activist.

Mi'kmaq Native Warrior from Nova Scotia. Photograph by Dave Brosha

Lakota artist Kevin Locke  performing a Hoop Dance.

Gerry Hunter of the Lac-Simon Reservation wearing the traditional dress and war paint of the Algonquin. From here .

Members of the San Ildefonso Pueblo dancing in around 1929.

Native Americans chanting and praying at Standing Rock, from here .

The REALITY

Native American culture can't be talked about without bringing up politics because of the way the two are irrevocably entwined. They are staunch advocates for Mother Earth, for the Sacred, and for humanity, fighting for the Greater Good of us all, even now.