Selected and Nominated for Best Period Piece screenplay at the Action On Film International Film Festival 2013.
In 1800, Sacajawea was kidnapped, enslaved and abused. Indigenous women continue to be stolen, abused, forced into slavery and even murdered across the world. That is why Sacajawea's story is so important and relevant to audiences everywhere.
Interesting Synergy FACT about Tillamook Head, Oregon: Sacajawea was born in Salmon, Idaho. Little did she know that the basalt rock she hiked, called Tillamook Head, was actually a tilted remnant of a basalt lava flow that had traveled down the Columbia River, 15-million-years before. And, incredibly, the flow originated in Idaho, Sacajawea's "home." So, as she gazed out at the great water from that 1000 foot high cliff, she was, in fact, standing on her own land. Now isn't that amazing.
There is much controversy and passion around the spelling of Sacajawea's name. Historians believe it was spelled with a "g" because it is a Hidatsa name which is SacaGawea or Sakakawea, meaning Bird Woman.
But, Sacajawea's people believe it is spelled with a "j" because that is the Shoshoni spelling, Sacajawea, meaning Boat Pusher. The Sacajawea film tells her story through Sacajawea's eyes - so in the screenplay, they will honor her people with the Shoshoni spelling. However, when she is given her name in the movie, it will be the "g" pronunciation because it was the Hidatsa who gave it to her.
The Official logo for the film depicts both the "g" and the "j" by creating a symbol of peace to draw people together around the life of this brave woman. The bowl of the "g" is the medicine wheel with all races, the tail of the "j" is a red feather, to remember the lost, stolen, and abused Indigenous women of the ages (Sacajawea was one of them), and to never forget those who have been murdered.
But, Sacajawea's people believe it is spelled with a "j" because that is the Shoshoni spelling, Sacajawea, meaning Boat Pusher. The Sacajawea film tells her story through Sacajawea's eyes - so in the screenplay, they will honor her people with the Shoshoni spelling. However, when she is given her name in the movie, it will be the "g" pronunciation because it was the Hidatsa who gave it to her.
The Official logo for the film depicts both the "g" and the "j" by creating a symbol of peace to draw people together around the life of this brave woman. The bowl of the "g" is the medicine wheel with all races, the tail of the "j" is a red feather, to remember the lost, stolen, and abused Indigenous women of the ages (Sacajawea was one of them), and to never forget those who have been murdered.
In 2023, the screenplay was awarded WINNER for Best Historical Script at the ONIROS FILM AWARDS in New York, WINNER for Best Feature Script at the Portland Screenplay Awards in Portland Oregon, and WINNER of the Star of Venice Award for Best Feature Script, Best Original Concept, Best Author at the Venice Under the Stars International Film Festival in Venice Italy.