Reviewed by Cherine Whitney.
Ms. Whitney, a temporary cataloger in the Library at MPMRC, catalogs videos and books for both the Research and Children’s Libraries.

This powerful documentary, filmed in the Yukon Territory during the mid 1990s, describes Native children’s experience in mission schools from the 1920s to the 1980s, and addresses the long-term impact of child abuse on Native communities. It also looks at the efforts being made in communities around the Yukon to repair some of the damage done by the schools, as well as Native individuals’ efforts to turn their lives around. The Catholic Church and the federal government – most notably, the Department of Indian Affairs – took Native children from their homes and families and put them in off-reservation boarding schools to be assimilated into the white man’s way of life. They abandoned their culture, customs, and lost their language.

In the first public hearing in 20 years, former residents courageously recounted the horrors of physical and emotional abuse they endured. They also spoke of the guilt, shame, and low self-esteem they have felt their whole lives. Many of the victims told how they learned that the perpetrators had either gone to jail on convictions for other child molestation, or killed themselves. Ironically, these perpetrators had ended up being close to these children, because they served as teachers and role models. Unfortunately, these children received both abuse and love from these individuals. Such a paradox!

Motivated to heal, forgive, and move forward, the honest outpouring of painful abuse has helped the victims make changes. At a three-day conference for healing, put together by Canadian Federal justice officials, the victims wanted compensation for the years taken away from their childhood, including substance abuse and homelessness prevention programs at counseling centers, and a demonstration of understanding from the government.

The non-natives’ response (government, religion, social services system) was a team effort dealing with the situation in a caring, sensitive way. Social workers and counselors were brought into the conference to receive more training by a community trauma expert to help deal with the issues; circle sentencing (community based justice and rehabilitation) was implemented; and community recognition award ceremonies of individual rehabilitation were put into practice.

I felt that this was a superb documentary that showed the realities of childrens’ experiences in residential schools. The portrayal of the non-Natives was fair in that they were presented as trying to help heal the situation as best as they could. It was emotionally heart-wrenching to hear the testimonies of those who survived emotional, spiritual, and sexual abuses. The film also revealed that many children felt guilty about liking the school. Indeed, there were positive things to note: warm place to sleep, toilets, food, etc. I think it was realistic to bring this up. The counselors acknowledged this fact, but also asked the children to state what they gave up at school (home life, family, traditions).

For a balance of perspective, it would have been interesting to hear the viewpoints of the perpetrators. Questions that come to mind: Why would they do these things? Do they acknowledge what they did?  Are they seeking help? The audio and visual production was excellent. Unfortunately, with all of the work that obviously went into making this film, few end credits are given.