
The Cherokee Word for Water is a feature-length motion picture that tells the story of the work that led Wilma Mankiller to become the first modern female Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Set in the early 1980s, The Cherokee Word for Water begins in the homes of a small town in rural Oklahoma where many houses lack running water and others are little more than shacks. The movie is told from the perspective of Wilma Mankiller and full-blood Cherokee organizer Charlie Soap who join forces to battle opposition and build a 16-mile waterline system using a community of volunteers. In the process, they inspire the townspeople to trust each other, to trust their way of thinking, and to spark a reawakening of the universal indigenous values of reciprocity and interconnectedness. This project also inspired a self-help movement in Indian Country that continues to this day. The movie is dedicated to Wilma Mankiller’s vision, compassion and incredible grace.
Use Gatsby to find where to watch The Cherokee Word for Water (2013) online. This movie page brings together streaming availability, cast details, ratings, and related discovery links in one place.
Watch now by comparing streaming, rental, and purchase options from Apple TV (Rent), Apple TV (Buy) where they are currently listed for your region.
Gatsby shows where to watch The Cherokee Word for Water online, including streaming, rental, and purchase options when availability data is listed for your region.
The Cherokee Word for Water may be available through Apple TV (Rent), Apple TV (Buy) where those providers are listed.
The cast section includes Zahn McClarnon, Kimberly Guerrero, Ben Livingston, and more, with links to Gatsby cast and filmography pages.
Use the related titles, genre links, and browse pages on Gatsby to find more movies and shows like The Cherokee Word for Water.

The Cherokee Word for Water is a feature-length motion picture that tells the story of the work that led Wilma Mankiller to become the first modern female Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Set in the early 1980s, The Cherokee Word for Water begins in the homes of a small town in rural Oklahoma where many houses lack running water and others are little more than shacks. The movie is told from the perspective of Wilma Mankiller and full-blood Cherokee organizer Charlie Soap who join forces to battle opposition and build a 16-mile waterline system using a community of volunteers. In the process, they inspire the townspeople to trust each other, to trust their way of thinking, and to spark a reawakening of the universal indigenous values of reciprocity and interconnectedness. This project also inspired a self-help movement in Indian Country that continues to this day. The movie is dedicated to Wilma Mankiller’s vision, compassion and incredible grace.







