We are Birds: A Documentary by Albert Chacon

Bird Songs have been a part of Cahuilla and other Southern California Native cultures for thousands of years, and the migrations of these songs as they were shared over time have created a long history of cultural connectedness between tribes across the region. These songs have also become a linkage between generations, and are at the heart of a growing movement to sustain language and cultural practice.

We Are Birds is a documentary film project that focuses on this movement as experienced by a variety of Elders, Bird Singers and Dancers, and other Cultural Preservationists. Their stories delve into the heart of what birdsinging is, how it has changed, and why it is important that Bird Lives On.

We Are Birds documents this current social movement for the people’s own Native history, and also introduces the culture to a broader audience. Non-Native peoples are largely unaware of the Native cultures in their local area, and are unfamiliar with their song and dance traditions. This project aims to shed light on these traditions that are both ancient and modern, while also creating awareness in the public, in the education system, and in local communities.
Produced by Albert Chacon