The Story
Tonkawa: They All Stay Together follows the powerful story of the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma, a fiercely unique people whose culture once dominated the land now known as Texas, but was driven to the brink of extinction. The Tonkawa now stand at a pivotal moment in history. With their language nearly lost, removed from their homeland, and modern challenges threatening what remains of their culture, the Tonkawa are determined to reclaim who they are as a people and ensure their traditions endure for generations to come.
Over four years, this film documents the tribe’s fight for cultural survival. At the center of the battle is Don Patterson, the last living, fluent Tonkawa speaker, whose knowledge of the language represents an irreplaceable link to the past. Tribal President Russell Martin leads a bold push for economic growth and the effort to buy back Naton Samox (Red Mountain), the tribe’s sacred place of origin. Cultural Director Miranda Myer works tirelessly to spark curiosity and pride in the next generation, even as she battles apathy and the loss of living cultural memory.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of their annual powwows, the film offers an intimate, unflinching portrait of a people confronting the erosion of their identity and the deep resilience that has carried them through centuries of hardship and genocide. Through moments of struggle and celebration, Tonkawa: They All Stay Together offers an intimate portrait of a community working to bridge the gap between a proud history and an uncertain future.
The Living History
Once a federation of a dozen related tribes spanning from southern Texas to central Oklahoma, a series of forced removals and a brutal, calculated massacre reduced the Tonkawa to fewer than 50 people by the 1900’s. Today, the tribe has rebounded to almost 1,000 enrolled members, a testament to their perseverance and unity, but still a fraction of their historic numbers.
Despite economic growth and new community projects, core elements of Tonkawa identity remain at risk. The Tonkawa language, a linguistic isolate found nowhere else in the world, is spoken fluently by only one elder, 85-year-old Don Patterson. Without urgent action, centuries of oral tradition, ceremony, and worldview could disappear.
In the wake of losing a number of elders to COVID-19, the Tonkawa have accelerated their efforts to protect what remains — launching cultural education programs, reclaiming ceremonies, and undertaking the historic fight to reclaim Naton Samox, their sacred birthplace in Texas. Tonkawa: They All Stay Together captures four years of the life of the Tribe at this turning point, when strong action ensures the survival of a people’s identity well into the future.
Because the Tribe was forcibly removed from Texas, it was the film crew's request that initial funding be raised as much as possible from Texas and that the primary contribution from the Tribe be their willingness to spend time telling their story in their voice.
The Production
Tonkawa: They All Stay Together was created over four years alongside the Tonkawa Tribe. What began as a research project grew into trust, and eventually a unanimous invitation from the tribe’s executive committee and elders to document their ongoing journey to preserve culture and define their future.
Principal filming began in June 2022 and continued through April 2025 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and across Central Texas — the tribe’s original homelands before removal. Anchored by the annual Tonkawa powwow, the film captured leadership meetings, language classes, naming ceremonies, and the revival of long-dormant dances. Alongside these ceremonies and everyday moments, the production followed the community’s historic effort to reclaim their language and Naton Samox (Red Mountain), the sacred place of origin for the Tonkawa people in Central Texas.
Over the course of four years, the crew returned again and again, recording more than one hundred interviews and scores of community gatherings. Each visit deepened relationships and opened new storylines, with elders sharing their histories and younger leaders stepping into their roles. What began as a record of tradition grew into an intimate portrait of a people actively shaping their future.
Principal filming began in June 2022 and continued through April 2025 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and across Central Texas — the tribe’s original homelands before removal. Anchored by the annual Tonkawa powwow, the film captured leadership meetings, language classes, naming ceremonies, and the revival of long-dormant dances. Alongside these ceremonies and everyday moments, the production followed the community’s historic effort to reclaim their language and Naton Samox (Red Mountain), the sacred place of origin for the Tonkawa people in Central Texas.
Over the course of four years, the crew returned again and again, recording more than one hundred interviews and scores of community gatherings. Each visit deepened relationships and opened new storylines, with elders sharing their histories and younger leaders stepping into their roles. What began as a record of tradition grew into an intimate portrait of a people actively shaping their future.
Our Approach
From the outset, Tonkawa: They All Stay Together was guided by a collaborative ethic. The creative team committed to making a film that the Tonkawa could recognize as their own story, told on their terms. Every stage, from research and oral histories to filming and editing, was built on continuous consent. Each interviewee renewed permission at every sitting, and the tribe’s executive committee provided ongoing oversight.
Rather than focusing on individual voices alone, the production embraced the tribe’s collective perspective. The Tonkawa leadership requested that the tribe be credited as a whole, rather than highlighting individual members. This reflects their deeply held value of unity — a family that despite their inevitable challenges “all stays together.”
To ensure accuracy and cultural integrity, footage was reviewed not only with tribal elders but also with academic historians and representatives of cultural institutions. Their input helped shape both the historical record and the contemporary story being told. In this way, the film became less a director-driven narrative and more a shared space where tribal memory, living culture, and future aspirations could converge.
Rather than focusing on individual voices alone, the production embraced the tribe’s collective perspective. The Tonkawa leadership requested that the tribe be credited as a whole, rather than highlighting individual members. This reflects their deeply held value of unity — a family that despite their inevitable challenges “all stays together.”
To ensure accuracy and cultural integrity, footage was reviewed not only with tribal elders but also with academic historians and representatives of cultural institutions. Their input helped shape both the historical record and the contemporary story being told. In this way, the film became less a director-driven narrative and more a shared space where tribal memory, living culture, and future aspirations could converge.
The Music
The drum is the heartbeat of the Tonkawa people, and it became the heartbeat of the film. The production recorded hundreds of hours of powwow music, researched archival recordings, and collaborated with The Ft. Oakland Ramblers, a Tonkawa drum group formed and led by Don Patterson, the last fluent speaker of the Tonkawa language.
Every piece of music in the film has roots in authentic Tonkawa tradition. Original melodies, tempos, and lyrics drawn from historic and contemporary songs were used as the foundation. From this base, the score was developed to reflect the individuality of each generation. Older songs were preserved in their traditional form, while younger voices were paired with modern instrumentation and production techniques. By fusing ancient rhythms with contemporary sounds and genres, the soundtrack mirrors the film’s central theme: tradition carried forward, reshaped but never abandoned.
This layered soundscape allows each individual and each generation in the film to have their own “musical identity.” A naming ceremony might be accompanied by the rhythms of centuries-old drum patterns, while scenes of contemporary youth carry forward those same rhythms through modern sonic textures and hip-hop beats. In this way, the music underscores the idea that the Tonkawa people, while deeply rooted in their past, are constantly evolving — interpreting the old ways in new ways, while always honoring the lessons of their ancestors each in their own unique way.
Every piece of music in the film has roots in authentic Tonkawa tradition. Original melodies, tempos, and lyrics drawn from historic and contemporary songs were used as the foundation. From this base, the score was developed to reflect the individuality of each generation. Older songs were preserved in their traditional form, while younger voices were paired with modern instrumentation and production techniques. By fusing ancient rhythms with contemporary sounds and genres, the soundtrack mirrors the film’s central theme: tradition carried forward, reshaped but never abandoned.
This layered soundscape allows each individual and each generation in the film to have their own “musical identity.” A naming ceremony might be accompanied by the rhythms of centuries-old drum patterns, while scenes of contemporary youth carry forward those same rhythms through modern sonic textures and hip-hop beats. In this way, the music underscores the idea that the Tonkawa people, while deeply rooted in their past, are constantly evolving — interpreting the old ways in new ways, while always honoring the lessons of their ancestors each in their own unique way.
Impact Looking Forward
Tonkawa: They All Stay Together has been designed as a cultural resource and catalyst for conversation. The film provides an urgently needed correction to revisionist histories that have long misrepresented or erased the Tonkawa people — some textbooks still list the tribe as “extinct.” By showing the tribe as the full, vibrant community they are today, the film reframes public understanding and honors the resilience of the Tonkawa people.
The footage, including material not included in the final cut, will also live beyond the screen. The production is working with museums in both Texas and Oklahoma to house recordings and oral histories, ensuring that firsthand accounts are preserved for future generations. This archival legacy is intended to safeguard culture, language, and ceremony from being lost again.
At the same time, the film offers a contemporary story that resonates far beyond Oklahoma and Texas. It speaks to universal themes of identity, survival, and cultural renewal. In classrooms, community centers, and tribal organizations, the film will serve as both a teaching tool and a conversation starter, inviting audiences to engage with questions of history, justice, and resilience.
Ultimately, Tonkawa: They All Stay Together is more than a record of the past. It is a living story of a people carrying forward their traditions, their music, and their identity — together, into the future.
The footage, including material not included in the final cut, will also live beyond the screen. The production is working with museums in both Texas and Oklahoma to house recordings and oral histories, ensuring that firsthand accounts are preserved for future generations. This archival legacy is intended to safeguard culture, language, and ceremony from being lost again.
At the same time, the film offers a contemporary story that resonates far beyond Oklahoma and Texas. It speaks to universal themes of identity, survival, and cultural renewal. In classrooms, community centers, and tribal organizations, the film will serve as both a teaching tool and a conversation starter, inviting audiences to engage with questions of history, justice, and resilience.
Ultimately, Tonkawa: They All Stay Together is more than a record of the past. It is a living story of a people carrying forward their traditions, their music, and their identity — together, into the future.
With Deep Gratitude
We gratefully thank the following sponsors who helped us produce TONKAWA: THEY ALL STAY TOGETHER
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This film was made possible by:
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Additional Funding by:
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As well as:
And all those who wish to remain anonymous. |
Thank you for the support.
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