Filming on the Navajo Nation! 🌄

The cultural legacy of the Diné

“The Diné (Navajo) people have at least 25-30 years before we are extinct.”  
- Cherylee Francis

Frances Causey Films is delighted to be collaborating with Cherylee Francis, an Award-Winning Navajo filmmaker, Entrepreneur, and Social Impact Content Strategist. With over 23 years of experience as a Producer, Director, Cinematographer and Video Editor, Cherylee creates authentic digital content that uplifts the Native American voice through a Native lens. 

Cherylee Francis & Frances Causey

Our new film, Divide and Conquer (working title), is currently in production and tells the incredible story of Cherylee's life and that of her remarkable family, whose own story parallels that of the larger Diné historic and contemporary narrative. From the perspective of a modern Navajo woman, we explore who the Diné people are, beginning with The Long Walk (1864-1868) - a lengthly and brutal U.S. campaign against the Diné people in what is referred to as the American Holocaust that continues to traumatize generations.

Moving forward 156 years later, who are the Diné people today? How has the historic impact of European American colonization changed the Diné culture, traditions, language, and their economy?

We shadow Cherylee as she investigates the devastating impact of energy resource extraction on her Nation while exposing the legacy of mining on Navajo land, particularly uranium mining.  As the demand for green nuclear energy increases with ongoing climate catastrophe, uranium mining is resuming on the border of Dinetah, the traditional homeland of the Navajo. Industrial use and waste of clean water from coal mining has severely impacted the Diné communities for decades.

Frances Causey Films is honored to share Cherylee’s family history and experiences, along with hearing directly from Diné community members. Together, our mission is to provide answers and solutions to help the next generation of Diné people.

All our best,

Team FC Films