‘Speaking Ute’ to be featured in Oklahoma 

The Southern Ute Education Department’s Filmmaking Workshop student film “Speaking Ute” will be featured at the 2026 Tonkawa Film Festival. Screening will take place April 24 and 25 at Wilkin Hall, at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Okla. 

The film “Speaking Ute” was featured previously at the Native Lens Showcase at the Durango Independent Film Festival on March 7, and the Nyack International Film Festival March 22-28, 2026. 

The film was written and produced by four Ignacio High School Native American students during the summer of 2025 through the Filmmaking Workshop hosted by the Southern Ute Education Department and Sunshine Cloud Smith Youth Advisory Council. 

The Southern Ute Education Department and Sunshine Cloud Smith Youth Advisory Council encourage Southern Ute tribal membership, tribal leadership and the community to support the filmmakers in their production. The Southern Ute Education Department and Sunshine Cloud Smith Youth Advisory Council would like to thank the students for their hard work, dedication and time making this film possible. 

For further questions please contact Southern Ute Education Department 970-563-0237 ShaRay Rock srrock@southernute-nsn.gov or Dustin Weaver dweaver@southernute.nsn.gov