Bones of Crows (2022) Movie Script
1
- Are you hungry? I
said, are you hungry?
Because it's your lucky
day. Rations are in.
Come on up here!
Come on, let's
go! Get a move on!
There you go! You can make it!
Yeah, keep on coming!
Up you come!
Here we are!
There you go, come
on now, let's move!
Come on right up here!
Come on, let's
go, right up here!
Come on! Right up!
Here you go! Right!
Come on! Come on up!
There we go, we got
flour, we got fresh meat,
we got vegetables,
and fruit. Hmm?
Come on now, let's go!
Yes, you, young man!
Come on, come right up here!
There you go, there you go!
April Fool's Day!
April Fool's Day!
We got nothing!
It's April Fools Day!
- Mr. Quinn, stop!
- It's a fucking joke!
Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Joke!
How do you say "joke" in Cree?
Ah, fuck off then!
The rest of you, fuck off.
Go on, fuck off.
Get the fuck away... go
away. Get away with ya's!
Bunch of useless fuckers!
I said, are you hungry?
Yeah, well, if you're hungry,
you go to the
reservation we gave you,
you ungrateful leeches!
You will go now or
for the love of God...
If my friend
ain't got no money
And I say, take
all of mine, honey
Ain't nobody's
business if I do
If I do, do, do, do
If I give him my last nickel
And it leaves us in a pickle
It ain't nobody's
business if I do
If we do, do, do
Time for dinner.
Business if I do
Come, help me Aline.
How'd they do?
Aline caught one.
Tye is a great helper.
He'll be a good hunter one day.
Perseverance, well...
Perseverance wanted
to make them pets.
I'll never eat them.
Ah!
Creator,
thank you
for right now and forever.
Creator, thank you
for all things.
Smells delicious, Momma.
Here's for you, Aline.
Are you ready for tomorrow?
Yes, momma?
Come here!
The grass dance is
only for the men!
You look beautiful.
I am proud of you.
You are my heart.
Aline... Aline...
You usually smile when you play.
You have me now.
- We should get dressed.
We're going to be late
to our own wedding.
I could stay here forever.
- Me too.
But the world has
different plans for us.
Come on.
Oh...
- Cold feet?
No, it's just...
My shoelace.
You're good at that.
- Don't get any ideas!
- Are you sure about this?
- I was sure the
first time I saw you.
- Okay.
- I do.
- I do.
It's a big day. You get married
and are shipped off to war.
Thanks for travelling here
to be with us. Appreciate it.
- Hey...
It was good to see you. I'll
tell Mom and Dad all about it.
Take care... I mean it.
Thanks for coming.
Bye, Aline.
You alright?
- Yeah, it's been a long time
since I've seen my brother.
He was always the lucky one.
But he doesn't have you.
Which makes me the luckiest
bastard in the world.
- I want you to be...
- Careful.
I think it will
be a careful war.
- Stop it.
- I'll be careful.
I have you now.
I'll be careful.
I love you.
Say it.
I love you.
We don't have goodbyes
in my language.
I'll see you soon.
We don't have goodbyes
in my language either.
See you later.
- Mr. Miller.
- Sister Ruth.
Good afternoon.
It's time for
Aline's piano lesson.
Three o'clock.
- I know how to tell time.
- Yes, Sister.
- We've been experiencing a
burden of duties, Mr. Miller.
With so many of
our children sick,
we need to knuckle down
and pick up the slack.
I'm sure you understand.
- Forgive me, but...
I'm not sure Father Jacobs
would... understand, Sister.
He has requested Aline play at
his special dinner next week.
And she will need to prepare
and practice the
piece he has selected.
He's in his study if you'd
like to speak with him.
- No. That won't be necessary.
Enjoy your time, Aline.
Your duties await you.
Not all of us have
special privileges.
Keep the line straight
and your eyes down.
No need to idle.
Keep the line straight.
- There is a request
from Father Jacobs.
It's... a complicated piece.
But...
I think you're ready for it.
- Yes, Mr. Miller.
- I told you, you
can call me Thomas.
- Yes.
- I want you to close your eyes.
I'm going to take your hand.
And put it over mine.
Like this.
Now, find my left hand.
Now, just listen to the
notes as I play them.
And stay on top of my hands.
There you go.
What are you feeling?
- I feel... free.
- We share the love of music.
I can see that in you.
You can be free...
in this room, Aline.
You can be free with me.
- Attention!
As you were.
You.
My name is Major Stevens.
- Aline.
- Spears. I know.
You're graduating soon.
- Yes, sir.
- Congratulations on that.
And, of course, your marriage.
He's overseas?
- Yes, he was sent
over right after.
- Do you know where your
husband is stationed?
- First, London. And then,
he'll receive his
orders from there.
- We're sending you to
London, after your graduation.
- I thought most of the
Morse code operators
were based here in Canada, sir?
- That's correct, but
we're putting together
a special operation.
It says in your
file you're Cree.
- Yes, sir.
If that's a problem...
- On the contrary.
Are you still fluent
in your language?
It's nothing to be ashamed of.
- No, sir. I mean...
Yes, sir, I still speak Cree.
- The opportunity
I'm talking about
would be a secret division
within the Canadian Air Forces.
It's highly sensitive.
You'll be briefed
when you get there.
- I understand.
- How good are you
at keeping secrets?
I don't mean to be
indelicate, but women...
aren't known for this skill.
- I have a lot of experience.
- Do you want time
to think about it?
- No, sir.
- We'll be in touch
after your graduation.
24 words a minute, I hear.
- Yes, sir.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Sir.
- Aline...
Your left hand.
- It doesn't interfere
with my work, sir.
It was a... childhood accident.
- We might be able to
do something about it.
Would that be of
interest to you?
- Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you.
My name is Charlie Tomkins.
I'm from Alberta,
around Grand Prairie.
Mtis/Cree. Welcome.
- Aline Spears. Cree.
- Would you like to follow me?
- Yes. Thank you.
- We've come up with a system
to translate English into Cree,
and then back again.
I'll walk you through
a few things here,
and I'll walk into
the other room,
and we'll continue to
translate over the phone.
It's pretty straightforward.
But there are some things we
Cree don't have words for.
Like there is no word
for a Spitfire plane.
So I've named it "iskotew".
- Fire.
- Yes, fire.
The mustang aircraft...
Wild Horse.
Other common names we use are...
Bee. Seventeen.
Bee. Seventeen.
For the B17
bombers.
What would you say
if an order read,
"20 B17 bombers spotted"?
Twenty...
Bee...
Seventeen...
Guns.
Excellent.
You'll receive codes
from the field in Cree
and then translate
them into English
to the Commanders
here, and vice versa.
The Germans haven't been
able to crack our code.
How did you keep your language?
- Secret codes.
- We've been training
all of our lives.
You can call me Checker.
- Okay. Checker.
- Here, at this school,
we have 324 students
who are being kept
on a strict diet.
A caloric measure that will keep
them in a state of malnutrition.
Little meat, little
fresh vegetables,
and a low-grade flour
which we purchased
at a damn good
price.
This allows us to
keep costs here low,
which I'm sure
you can appreciate
allows for other human luxuries
such as this beautiful meal.
- I think you're stringing
us along for effect.
How are you gathering your data?
- Biochemical tests to
measure protein for growth.
As well as intellectual
and aptitude tests
to see how this affects
their ability to learn.
Nothing conclusive yet.
Naturally, we're seeing
a rise in sickness,
particularly TB and the measles.
Disease feeds on
poverty conditions.
On the other hand, we're
giving 126 of our students
vitamins and iron supplements,
and we are monitoring them.
We keep the food
under lock and key,
and all dietary records
are kept for all meals,
so that we can
manage the outcome.
- Perseverance.
- It's too much.
They need more food.
Nonsense.
Nonsense, Thomas.
You know, I worry about
this new generation.
Too soft.
Just off the boat
to boot.
I think that we owe a lot to
your mother country, Mr. Miller.
If it wasn't for England,
the residential school
system would never exist.
Industrial...
- They were abolished in 1843.
- Industrial schools were
what made England great.
Colonization of Ireland,
South Africa, Australia,
New Zealand, and now Canada.
Indians... All of them,
one way or another.
Not a shred of
civilization combined.
What's the name of the
Deputy... Indian Affairs fellow?
What did he call it?
- The Final Solution
to the Indian problem.
Duncan Campbell
Scott.
I mean, Your Excellency
rarely speaks,
but when he does... One-two!
Come on, Thomas,
don't look so glum.
- John A. Macdonald said
if you want to motivate
the Indian, you must starve him.
Who are we to argue
with such visionaries?
Progress waits for no man.
Thomas.
Would you get
Aline to play Bach?
The piece I requested.
- Oh... Yes.
Hey!
- A prodigy in our midst.
It is a great mystery
that someone of her race,
with no training, with no access
to the cultured things in life,
can play like a young wonder.
God works his
miracles in all of us
and he's merciful to be sure.
Oh. Young Thomas also
had news. Please, share.
- I've been accepted
as a deacon.
- Our man of the cloth.
Welcome to the brotherhood.
- You've gotten skinny.
You okay?
- I will be.
Word is it could be
months, or even weeks.
- We'll get to set
up a home soon.
Start a family.
- I haven't heard the word
"home" in a long time.
You?
- No.
We'll have to decide
where we want to live.
They'll give us land
when we're released.
- I wouldn't count on it.
Indian guys that have
been shipped off to Canada
got nothing.
No land. No benefits.
We can't count on anything.
- Things have changed.
- I know, you think...
being in a special secret
unit makes you special.
But you wait.
They take everything in
you, leave you nothing.
Like why is it you
can't even tell
your own husband what you do?
- I took an oath.
- An oath?
You took an oath to me.
Or that doesn't count?
Any other secrets
you haven't told me?
- What are you talking about?
- How many men were
you with before me?
There's... There's something
you're not telling me.
Some secret inside you.
I'm sorry.
I love you.
It's just...
It's been a long damn war.
It's been a long damn war.
Adam, look!
Stop it...
Stop it... what is this?
It's going to be all right.
It's going to be alright.
- You look worried, Aline.
The surgery on your hand
is going to go just fine.
You won't feel a thing.
- I wish that was true.
Could have been true.
- We'll count you
down backwards.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...
Four...
Three...
Two...
Run!
We ask
that you forgive the sins
of these children. In
Jesus Christ's name.
You didn't think your master
escape would go unpunished?
We'll go to the post.
- God takes one thing away...
and gives another.
- It was my grandmother's song.
She used to sing it
to my brother and me.
- Don't you think
it's too early?
Something... wrong might happen.
- It'll make her stronger.
- Her?
- It's a her.
I know it.
- Are you scared?
- No.
We'll be okay.
Are you scared?
- Yeah. A little.
- That's why we have each other.
We'll make it work.
You're leaving next week.
And... I just have
one more deployment.
You'll finally have
the use of your...
left hand again,
maybe even play
piano with two hands.
And we can finally start this
life we've been talking about.
We'll have this baby girl,
and then we can have a boy.
- You're getting
ahead of yourself.
- I'm just so happy.
I'm so happy.
What's wrong?
Talk to me.
- When things are too good...
I'm just scared that
things will be taken away.
You're so happy.
I don't want to
spoil everything.
- You're not
spoiling everything.
The war is almost over.
Who will take them away?
- I don't know.
I just have a feeling...
that something bad is coming.
And we won't be able
to protect them.
- From what?
The world.
- It's the law, Matthew.
You'll go to jail
if you don't sign.
You don't want to
go to jail, hmm?
Think of the education
they will receive.
You want that,
don't you, January?
For them to be educated?
Think about that.
Maybe they won't have
to live like this
for the rest of their lives.
They can have a real future.
- I want my children home
where they should be.
Children need their parents.
We provide for them!
We love them!
- I'm tired of the jawing here.
All the Squaw needs to know
is we can throw them in jail
and throw away the key.
- Won't be much good
to your children then.
- Ah.
That's a smart man, Matthew.
One day, your family
will thank you for this.
You'll see.
We don't always know
what's best for ourselves.
That's why we have the
government and the church
to look after our
best interests.
Momma... Momma, look at me!
Aline. Now.
- Let go! No!
Momma! Momma!
Mom!
Momma! Momma!
Do something! Do something!
I curse you! I told
you not to sign!
I told you this
is what they do...
I curse you...
Please, Creator,
not this! Not this!
Perseverance.
It's gonna be alright.
- Almost there. Wake up!
Momma...
You fucking animal.
You fucking pig.
Everybody out!
- Suzanne, your inmate
ID number is J503445.
Rose, your inmate ID
number is J503097.
Perseverance, your inmate
ID number is J503448.
Your number is 58.
You are 58. Do you understand?
Move!
Your inmate ID number is...
- Rude.
Shit.
What the hell now?
- That ain't so bad.
At least, we got this
big old lock between us.
Keeps us in, but on the
other hand, keeps them out.
- Amen, sister.
- Where you from?
- Dene. Little Duck Lake. You?
- Cree. Outside of Brandon.
- They imprisoned some
real famous Crees here
from the beginning...
and now you.
Chief Poundmaker,
Chief Big Bear.
- I feel at home now.
- Oh, and one crazy lady
who screamed all the time.
Probably from my
tribe.
- Shit...
- Hey, you got kids?
- Yeah.
Three.
I signed some paper so
I could see them sooner.
Both the detective and the
lady from Family Services
said it was the best
thing to get them back.
Hmm.
You?
- They took him. Foster care.
Haven't seen him
since he was born.
- I'm sorry.
- It's in the past.
- My sister's coming. I'm
gonna ask her to help out.
- That's good.
You got a plan.
- Tonight?
- Shh!
- What do you mean tonight?
- When everyone is asleep
and only Sister
Theresa is on watch.
I want you to get down, make
your way to the broom closet.
And then, I'll meet you
there. You understand?
Perseverance, look at me.
Once we start, we won't
be able to turn around.
Johnnie and Tye will be
waiting by the tool shed.
We'll wait until
the coast is clear.
We'll get as far as we can.
Then, we'll follow the
trapline back home.
They won't think of that.
- We'll see Mom and Dad, right?
We'll be home, everything
will be like it was.
You promise?
Promise
- Be careful.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- You look... You look good.
- Liar.
- Your turn.
- You look good, Perseverance.
- Bullshit.
I look like shit.
- Alright. Glad
that's over with.
- I'm sorry I missed
Adam's funeral.
- It was seven years ago.
I wouldn't worry about it.
- I heard you moved to Toronto.
- We needed a fresh start.
- How's that working for you?
- Fine.
- Look, I...
I need you to find my kids.
I need you to find out
where they put them.
Can you do that?
- I'll do everything that I can.
- You promise?
Promise
- Eight years is a long time.
- I know how to do time.
Plus, I'll get out
for good behaviour.
- I doubt it.
- Sis, I've changed.
Reformed-like, shit.
Mm-hmm. AA-ing it. NA-ing it.
Learning how to
trade.
- You should have said,
learning a trade...
Not learning to trade.
- Oh...
Oh, man, it was good to see you.
- Alright, I'm gonna have
to ask you folks to leave.
- I hate to leave you here.
- This way, this way!
- Is that what you
said to yourself?
- Wait up, Aline. Wait up.
- Perseverance?
Perseverance!
Come here!
Come!
- Yes, Father?
- Come on, Tye. We're close.
We have to keep moving.
- Perseverance.
You have to tell me.
What way are they going?
They're not on the main roads.
No?
No...
This is not you, Perseverance.
Hmm?
You're so beautiful,
Perseverance.
Now, be a good girl and
tell me where they are.
Right now.
I could kill you and
bury you out back,
and nobody...
nobody would care.
Tell me, Perseverance,
or so help me God!
- Tye.
We have to keep moving.
Johnnie, he's not breathing!
- You did the right thing.
- How did they know?
- Mama!
- Fucking stupid slut!
- Oh, fuck you, asshole!
Aline...
Hold my hand.
Aline.
Can you hold my hand?
Hmm.
You don't have to worry.
The monster isn't under the bed,
it's on top of us.
I love you.
Shut the fuck up, you whore!
Shh!
- He's gone to a better place.
- Did you tell our
parents? They should know.
- What would you
like me to tell them?
That you and Johnnie
planned to run away?
And you took little
Tye with you?
And he died from the cold?
How about I tell them
he died of influenza,
like many of the
sinful children here?
Somehow, that seems
more merciful.
Head down.
Dear Lord, we ask that you
forgive Aline and Johnnie
for causing the death of
their younger brother.
We ask that you forgive
the sins of these children.
In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
Johnnie, Father Jacobs is
waiting for you in his parlour.
You should get along now.
After this fiasco,
this is the last time
you will see him here.
Take a good long
look at your brother.
Perseverance, I have
business with your sister.
It's time for you to
go back to your dorm.
Perseverance, now.
You didn't think your master
escape would go unpunished?
I want you to take
off your sweater.
Faster!
Excellent.
We'll go down to the post.
- Mom, what are you doing?
Jake! Get out here!
Mom?
- I miss them.
Tye was just a baby.
- I know. I know, Mom.
- Did you find out any more
about Perseverance's children?
Where they are...
- We're getting closer.
They were adopted
out. You knew that.
They're in the States. I
told you that last week.
- Mom.
- You said that.
I know you said that.
- Mom. Mom.
You have to come down now.
You can come down.
- Mom!
I think I'm
losing my balance.
I think I've lost my balance.
I want to fall.
Perseverance is not missing.
She's dead.
Her face...
Her beautiful face.
- Let's go inside, Momma.
It's cold out here.
- Mom, please.
- I wish your father was here.
- Did you think you
were above everything?
- No, Sister.
- Did you think your actions
would not have consequences?
- No, Sister.
- You are not above me.
You are just another
worthless Indian in the dirt.
Let's see how special you are
when you can't play your piano.
You think you're untouchable,
but God sees everything,
and he can get to you.
Father.
- Shh.
- Father, she tried to...
- She's only an Indian, but
she was a special Indian.
A child prodigy.
The tiniest glimpse of promise in these
flat-tired miles of mud and ignorance.
She was a symbol that
what we are doing here
in this residential
school is above others.
From a savage to a
world-class pianist.
Such a possibility existed.
But now...
- Aline? Aline!
- Aline!
Aline!
- She has two broken
ribs from the fall,
and her hand...
- What about her piano?
- I'm sorry.
- I won't be able to play?
- You have other talents.
God takes one thing away...
and gives another.
Your God just keeps taking.
I know... you are
hurting, Aline,
but you must watch
your language.
- Adam, are you getting dressed?
- I am dressed.
Every Sunday, you get dressed,
and our children get dressed.
All so pretty.
And every Sunday, you
ask me the same question.
Are you getting dressed?
Don't ask me again.
What are you going to do when
they touch your precious babies?
I asked you a question.
Dear Jesus. Dear, dear Jesus.
Please help me forgive.
Let them fuck me
and my children,
but help me forgive.
- Enough!
- When is enough, enough?
It is enough, isn't it?
- Why don't you go
have another drink?
- You okay?
Did I make you cut
yourself?
I'm the mad one.
Okay? It's me who's mad.
I can fight their goddamn wars,
but I can't get a job
like a man should.
You want to know what
an Indian man is worth?
Aline, I'm talking to you. You
want to know what I'm worth?
My eye and my leg...
are worth 300 dollars.
The government wants to pay
me 300 for my eye and my leg.
They took away my Indian Status
because I joined the war,
but I can't be a citizen of
Canada because I'm an Indian,
so I don't get any
veteran pensions.
Three hundred f...
I guess that's what happens
when you think the war is over.
Don't go.
Don't go now. Stay with me.
- We'll pick up a few
things from the store,
be home by noon.
- Fuck me.
Fuck them.
As a result of this, we
can let them abolish the Indian Act
and make them citizens of
Canada like everyone else.
But we've learned in the process
that perhaps we were
a bit too theoretical,
we were a bit too
abstract, we were not...
- Okay, James. We're going
to get you now, okay?
Together. Be careful.
You've said
yourselves it would take time.
It will take time.
But in order to reach
some kind of agreement,
we have to trust each
other a little bit.
- In... Indian?
- Come on.
There is no way
that we are going to give up...
especially when we are threatened
with cultural genocide.
- Yesterday, Indian Affairs
Minister Jean Chrtien
refused to commit
government funds and support
to a national Indian committee
that would look at the state
of Indian rights and treaties.
- Can you turn the
damn politics off?
It's giving me a headache.
Sorry, Father.
Still got that potty mouth.
Aline can do it.
Sit for a minute, dear.
Whoever heard of a Red Paper?
Indians, that's who!
Indians think they can
get everything for nothing
when all we ever do
is bend over backwards
trying to give you people
everything that we have worked for.
- Trudeau was just in New
Zealand dancing with the Maori.
Did you see that?
He's quite the character.
I think he might have come
to a new understanding
of what Aboriginal means,
and I think Chretien
just adopted an Inuit boy.
Maybe this will somehow
help to bridge...
- What are your
children up to, Aline?
You have a son and a
daughter, I understand.
Did you ever have any
dreams for yourself
other than wiping
my father's old ass?
Sorry, Father.
I'm always saying
that I'm sorry.
You can speak freely here.
- Hmm.
My daughter, Taylor,
graduates this week as
a lawyer from Queens,
and my son, Jake,
just got accepted into the
Royal College of Art in London.
Myself, I wanted to
be a concert pianist.
But... life makes decisions
for us, doesn't it?
I work as a housekeeper
during the day.
And then, I come here
and I wipe your father's
old ass at night
because us Indian people,
we've been trying to clean
your shit up for decades.
Jake, honey, will you
grab the champagne?
- Yup.
- Ah, Mom, it's so beautiful.
I feel bad we have to cut it.
- I don't. I want
to eat it all.
When we were younger,
we were only allowed
to have one piece each,
but I think you'll have the
whole thing to yourself.
- Uncle Jake!
- They're just jealous.
- To my daughter, the lawyer.
Your dad would be
so proud of you.
I'm proud of you.
You did it.
- I did it because of you, Mom.
- We better cheers before
someone starts crying.
- Percy, you can just leave it.
It's my turn.
- She'll run off the sugar.
- What was my grandfather like?
- Like you.
Fierce.
And smart.
- It's going to be alright.
- I don't want anything
bad to happen to you.
You don't let anyone hurt you.
You promise?
- I promise.
Can you write it for me?
In Cree. Mom said you know how,
that it's buried inside of you.
- She said that, did she?
Promise
Play something for me, will you?
You're going to be an
amazing piano player.
Just like your Kokum.
- You smell good.
- You smell like you've
been drinking for two days.
- That's because I have
been drinking for two days.
Which you already know.
I think you want to say more.
You want to say...
I look handsome despite myself.
- I do, that's
what I want to say.
You good?
- Better.
Let off some steam.
- Do you want some breakfast?
- Stay right here, love.
Just like this.
Me and the boys didn't
finish cleaning up
'cause, you know,
we got carried away.
So I'll finish, be
back in a jiffy.
We'll start the day off right.
Just keep playing.
I love you just like this.
You look so beautiful.
- Good morning!
It's time to get up! Come on!
Good morning, sleepyhead. Hello!
I'll make pancakes!
With blueberries.
- Boo-berries...
- Blueberries.
- Boo-berries.
- Yeah! Does that sound good?
- Ted? You guys still here?
- Boo-berry.
- Hey, there.
I don't think you
should be here.
Grandmother's
prayers stayed with me...
but so did everything else.
You're my brave boy.
You're my favourite boy.
Come now, Adam.
You can walk with Joseph.
- Tears won't do
you no good here.
You're gonna see things
you'll never forget.
You gotta keep it inside you.
- Come along, boys. I'll
take you to the school.
It's in you.
You're going to hurt them.
- I love them more
than anything.
- Doesn't mean you're not
going to let it leak out.
Joseph did. He couldn't
handle it, how can you?
- I'm a man.
- They made him beat other
kids. They made him hurt you.
- I would never do that.
- You say that, but
you're still with me.
I didn't feel anything
when I saw him, but...
- Relief.
We were relieved.
- What kind of monsters
are we to feel that?
- Adam!
Adam! Adam!
- Mom?
- Please, Adam!
Please, please, Adam! Adam!
You said we would
do this together!
You said we would
do this together!
Honey, please!
- Mom?
- No!
Stay. Stay. Stay there.
It's a historic
day, and years in the making,
but finally, residential
school survivors from Canada
are here in Rome, Italy,
to tell their truth
about what happened at residential
schools to their people.
Friday is the general
audience with the pope
where hopefully
all of the stories
and all of the information
that he's heard
from the delegates this
week will make a difference.
And we'll be here to
cover more stories
as we go through the week.
Brothers and sisters,
I would like to
thank the cardinal
for organizing this
delegation from Canada.
I would like to
express our sorrow
at the anguish caused
by the deplorable conduct of
some members of the church.
I offer you our sympathy
and prayerful solidarity
to those who are
still living with
the consequences of their experiences
at the residential schools.
Acts of abuse cannot be
tolerated in society.
Thank you very much
and God bless you all.
His Excellency would like to ask
if any of the residential
school survivors
would like to take this
opportunity to speak
or be heard by His Holiness.
- My mother would like
to speak in her language,
our language. Cree.
I will translate for her.
My name is Aline Spears,
I am from the Cree Nation
in Manitoba, Canada.
I am 86 years old.
I would like to ask if
Cardinal Thomas Miller
is the same Cardinal
Thomas Miller
who was the head of
the Royal Commission
on Sexual Abuse in Canada.
Then The Holy See on sexual
abuse here at the Vatican,
and now the Vatican Treasurer.
- Yes, that is correct.
Cardinal Thomas Miller.
- I first knew him
as Thomas Miller,
a 17-year-old piano teacher
at the residential
school I attended.
Then as Deacon Miller, then
as Father Thomas Miller.
Then as the man who
sexually abused me...
at 16... and impregnated me.
- My turn.
- Are you alright?
- I'm fine, just tired.
- You should get some sleep.
- You should get some sleep.
I don't want to talk about it.
- I wasn't going to ask.
- You were.
I'm ready to go home.
- I know.
I know you are.
You did good today.
- I want my baby.
Give me my baby.
- He was born... stillborn.
- You heard him crying.
He's alive and you know it.
- He's dead to you.
It's better this way.
- For who?
- I don't know.
- Where will they take him?
- They will take him and
bury him down by the river.
- I will tell someone.
I will tell anyone
who will listen.
- Do you think anyone
would believe you?
- If the future can be erased
by the stamp of a boot...
Why would you let them?
How could you let them?
- I didn't have a choice.
- You're a woman.
- A child who's had a child
makes you a child no longer.
We're both prisoners of
our own circumstances.
- Is that how you see it?
Is that how... you
make it alright?
- I'm sorry.
If that's what you need to hear.
I am sorry about everything.
- I don't need your sorrow.
I need your protection.
You... owe me that.
You know he'll come at me again.
- You are an Indian.
I don't owe you anything.
And even if I did,
how can I protect you
when I can't even
protect myself?
- You took my protection away
when you broke the
bones in my hand.
- I knew that.
I knew that.
- I'm so tired.
You're almost there.
You'll go the rest
of the way yourself.
- Where am I going?
- You'll know soon enough.
Momma?
Momma.
My baby.
I know, my girl...
I know.
Shh...
Let's get you cleaned up.
Sixteen is the youngest
we can take them in,
even with parental consent.
- She's 16, for sure.
- We have a train leaving
tonight for Montreal.
She'll be in basic
training there.
We could get her on that
if that's not too early.
- That's perfect.
- I don't want to go.
I want to stay... with you.
And see Dad and
Perseverance and Johnnie.
- I want those things too,
but the only way
we can make sure
they don't send you
back to that school
is to send you to war.
It's funny, eh?
You promise me that you
won't look back... for us?
You're not being
selfish, my girl.
We need you to because...
you are our tomorrow. Hmm?
- Will you be here
when I get back?
- Your Dad and me
will always be here.
- No, I mean be here, be here.
- I'll see what I can do.
- There's nothing left to see.
We are not us... without them.
They are not them...
without us.
- Mom!
- Lina, take this.
There's gonna come a time
when your life is so perfect...
and you'll feel the darkness
and it'll threaten
to take it all away.
You don't let it.
You don't let them win.
You be everything that
you are meant to be.
Promise me.
Promise me!
- I promise.
You remind
me of her, my mother.
- People say I
remind them of you.
- I wanted to see
you before I left.
That was... quite
the dramatic reunion.
They are placing me on leave.
I am flying back
to Canada tonight.
To face the music, as they say.
Even if I am charged,
even if I am convicted...
of sexual abuse,
the church council will
likely drag it out.
And with any luck...
I will be dead by then.
Or we both will be.
A surprising bit of grace
offered at this old age.
Was there not one good thing
we gave you at
residential school?
Not one ounce of goodness
that came from it?
Surely, you learned
something from us
that sustained you in your life.
- What I've learned
from defending
Indigenous survivors...
who were defenseless children...
is that they might
have lived in poverty,
but they knew love.
What you taught them...
was an education in
unrelenting cruelty.
Of course, it's you.
Her daughter.
The lawyer.
What are you now?
- A Truth and
Reconciliation Commissioner.
- You must have been just
like her when you were young.
I can see it in your face.
Did she ever play again, piano?
- Yes.
Of course she did.
She could have been...
- She could have
been a lot of things.
But what she was, and is,
is an amazing mother.
What did you do with the child?
How did you make him disappear?
- I don't know what
you are implying.
What kind of monsters
do you think we are?
- Do you really want
me to answer that?
- He was adopted.
By a family who
couldn't conceive.
- How Christian of you.
I would imagine
there are no records?
One more thing, Your Eminence.
The Indian Residential School
Settlement is only the beginning.
The Truth and
Reconciliation Commission
is gathering the voices of all
the residential school survivors.
So that old age and time
will offer you little grace.
Your name will live on
as the sexual molester you are,
and as the protector of
serial child abusers.
Your life's work.
Enjoy your flight.
- I've said all
I've come to say.
You know everything about me.
Well, not everything,
but you know.
Are we done here?
- We'll just take your mic off.
- Oh, right.
- Is there anything we haven't
asked that you would like to tell?
I think the story goes on.
- Taylor, bring me my
purse there by my coat.
- You can give it
to her, it's fine.
What do we have here?
It looks like a music score.
- It's a song, that's a map.
It's the only way
we could record it
without them knowing.
The staff are the
banks of the river,
except they are curved.
Bass clef is South,
treble is North.
Half notes are trees.
Whole notes is...
is where...
they... they buried him.
The breath mark is where we
thought they buried others.
- Who is "him"?
- It's where they
buried my brother, Tye.
When he was eight.
When we tried to run away.
- Mom.
Mom.
- Yes, I can hear.
- Sorry. I just wanted to
make sure you were okay.
- I want to go home.
- I know, Mom.
- I'm...
I'm tired.
This whole thing
has tired me out.
My whole life has tired me out.
- We can just sit for a minute.
- You should get married.
- What? Where'd that come
from? You should get married.
- You never know, I just might
get a new man now that I'm 86.
- A rich family member
would be nice for a change.
You'd take a hit for
the team.
- There's so many
things I didn't know.
- I didn't want you to carry
more than you already did.
You were always so serious,
taking care of all of us.
You are my voice.
You...
You are my dream.
- Jake?
- My fire.
- Grandad?
- My love.
- Those we have lost?
- My marrow.
My bones.
Our bones.
- You sound different.
- How?
- You sound like
you're saying goodbye.
We don't say goodbye.
We say nikawapamitin.
- Nikawapamitin.
Okay, let's go get
ready for Percy's concert.
I will see you soon
I love you just like this
How the light hits you so
So beautiful I could cry
And I have all I have
Because I missed you so
You're my home
I'll meet you up ahead
Where perfect
days will remain
I'll meet you over the hill
I am free.
Wind in our hair
Sun on our faces
Whispering you are mine
You are my bones
Shine on, shine on
You are so beautiful
I could cry
Shine on, shine on
You are my home
You are my fire
You are my song
In our
dreams, in your dreams.
In our bones, in your bones.
This dream can take generations.
Do you think wishes come true?
It might seem impossible...
But make no mistake.
Aline.
- I'm Adam.
We are here.
I've missed you
And I have all I have
You are my home
You are my bones
Shine on, shine on
You are my voice
I promise you are
Shine on, shine one
You are my home
You are my fire
You are my bones
I knew it wasn't
going to be a good place
the first step that I
put into the building.
I went to the
residential school,
transported, you
see, in that truck.
It looked like a cattle truck.
All of my siblings,
we all went in together.
The priests and nuns came and
my brothers went that way,
and my sisters went that way,
and I never seen them again.
- The residential
school system took away
my language, my culture...
And my identity.
- Mental abuse, physical abuse,
sexual abuse that
I witnessed here,
no amount of money,
no counselor can ever
take that away from my mind.
- And then they scrubbed
us down with disinfectants
like we were diseased
little animals.
- Sometimes, they would
get so sick from the food
that they ate, you know,
that they would vomit.
The staff
and the supervisors
were being fed bacon and eggs
that was delivered to them
at the head of the dining area
and they would sit there
like kings and queens.
The residential
school was like being in jail.
A life in prison for
a crime you did not commit.
And my only crime was
being born Indian.
- They didn't teach us
love. They taught us fear.
I remember being awakened
and taken out of the room...
and then being sexually
abused by the priest.
The residential
school kills feelings in you.
The old saying, you beat
the Indian out of the child?
Sometimes, you beat the
humanity out of the child.
- The priests and the nuns...
failed us as Indian children
put into their care.
Very badly.
They were the problem.
I wasn't. We weren't
the problem as children.
The Truth and Reconciliation
Commission identified 3 200 deaths
of children in
residential schools,
but the real number is higher.
So many records are lacking.
The chair of the commission
Murray Sinclair has said
the number of children who
died could be as high as 6 000.
- But I don't want to
look at being a survivor,
I want to be a warrior
towards justice
and wellness and healing.
- Are you hungry? I
said, are you hungry?
Because it's your lucky
day. Rations are in.
Come on up here!
Come on, let's
go! Get a move on!
There you go! You can make it!
Yeah, keep on coming!
Up you come!
Here we are!
There you go, come
on now, let's move!
Come on right up here!
Come on, let's
go, right up here!
Come on! Right up!
Here you go! Right!
Come on! Come on up!
There we go, we got
flour, we got fresh meat,
we got vegetables,
and fruit. Hmm?
Come on now, let's go!
Yes, you, young man!
Come on, come right up here!
There you go, there you go!
April Fool's Day!
April Fool's Day!
We got nothing!
It's April Fools Day!
- Mr. Quinn, stop!
- It's a fucking joke!
Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Joke!
How do you say "joke" in Cree?
Ah, fuck off then!
The rest of you, fuck off.
Go on, fuck off.
Get the fuck away... go
away. Get away with ya's!
Bunch of useless fuckers!
I said, are you hungry?
Yeah, well, if you're hungry,
you go to the
reservation we gave you,
you ungrateful leeches!
You will go now or
for the love of God...
If my friend
ain't got no money
And I say, take
all of mine, honey
Ain't nobody's
business if I do
If I do, do, do, do
If I give him my last nickel
And it leaves us in a pickle
It ain't nobody's
business if I do
If we do, do, do
Time for dinner.
Business if I do
Come, help me Aline.
How'd they do?
Aline caught one.
Tye is a great helper.
He'll be a good hunter one day.
Perseverance, well...
Perseverance wanted
to make them pets.
I'll never eat them.
Ah!
Creator,
thank you
for right now and forever.
Creator, thank you
for all things.
Smells delicious, Momma.
Here's for you, Aline.
Are you ready for tomorrow?
Yes, momma?
Come here!
The grass dance is
only for the men!
You look beautiful.
I am proud of you.
You are my heart.
Aline... Aline...
You usually smile when you play.
You have me now.
- We should get dressed.
We're going to be late
to our own wedding.
I could stay here forever.
- Me too.
But the world has
different plans for us.
Come on.
Oh...
- Cold feet?
No, it's just...
My shoelace.
You're good at that.
- Don't get any ideas!
- Are you sure about this?
- I was sure the
first time I saw you.
- Okay.
- I do.
- I do.
It's a big day. You get married
and are shipped off to war.
Thanks for travelling here
to be with us. Appreciate it.
- Hey...
It was good to see you. I'll
tell Mom and Dad all about it.
Take care... I mean it.
Thanks for coming.
Bye, Aline.
You alright?
- Yeah, it's been a long time
since I've seen my brother.
He was always the lucky one.
But he doesn't have you.
Which makes me the luckiest
bastard in the world.
- I want you to be...
- Careful.
I think it will
be a careful war.
- Stop it.
- I'll be careful.
I have you now.
I'll be careful.
I love you.
Say it.
I love you.
We don't have goodbyes
in my language.
I'll see you soon.
We don't have goodbyes
in my language either.
See you later.
- Mr. Miller.
- Sister Ruth.
Good afternoon.
It's time for
Aline's piano lesson.
Three o'clock.
- I know how to tell time.
- Yes, Sister.
- We've been experiencing a
burden of duties, Mr. Miller.
With so many of
our children sick,
we need to knuckle down
and pick up the slack.
I'm sure you understand.
- Forgive me, but...
I'm not sure Father Jacobs
would... understand, Sister.
He has requested Aline play at
his special dinner next week.
And she will need to prepare
and practice the
piece he has selected.
He's in his study if you'd
like to speak with him.
- No. That won't be necessary.
Enjoy your time, Aline.
Your duties await you.
Not all of us have
special privileges.
Keep the line straight
and your eyes down.
No need to idle.
Keep the line straight.
- There is a request
from Father Jacobs.
It's... a complicated piece.
But...
I think you're ready for it.
- Yes, Mr. Miller.
- I told you, you
can call me Thomas.
- Yes.
- I want you to close your eyes.
I'm going to take your hand.
And put it over mine.
Like this.
Now, find my left hand.
Now, just listen to the
notes as I play them.
And stay on top of my hands.
There you go.
What are you feeling?
- I feel... free.
- We share the love of music.
I can see that in you.
You can be free...
in this room, Aline.
You can be free with me.
- Attention!
As you were.
You.
My name is Major Stevens.
- Aline.
- Spears. I know.
You're graduating soon.
- Yes, sir.
- Congratulations on that.
And, of course, your marriage.
He's overseas?
- Yes, he was sent
over right after.
- Do you know where your
husband is stationed?
- First, London. And then,
he'll receive his
orders from there.
- We're sending you to
London, after your graduation.
- I thought most of the
Morse code operators
were based here in Canada, sir?
- That's correct, but
we're putting together
a special operation.
It says in your
file you're Cree.
- Yes, sir.
If that's a problem...
- On the contrary.
Are you still fluent
in your language?
It's nothing to be ashamed of.
- No, sir. I mean...
Yes, sir, I still speak Cree.
- The opportunity
I'm talking about
would be a secret division
within the Canadian Air Forces.
It's highly sensitive.
You'll be briefed
when you get there.
- I understand.
- How good are you
at keeping secrets?
I don't mean to be
indelicate, but women...
aren't known for this skill.
- I have a lot of experience.
- Do you want time
to think about it?
- No, sir.
- We'll be in touch
after your graduation.
24 words a minute, I hear.
- Yes, sir.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Sir.
- Aline...
Your left hand.
- It doesn't interfere
with my work, sir.
It was a... childhood accident.
- We might be able to
do something about it.
Would that be of
interest to you?
- Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you.
My name is Charlie Tomkins.
I'm from Alberta,
around Grand Prairie.
Mtis/Cree. Welcome.
- Aline Spears. Cree.
- Would you like to follow me?
- Yes. Thank you.
- We've come up with a system
to translate English into Cree,
and then back again.
I'll walk you through
a few things here,
and I'll walk into
the other room,
and we'll continue to
translate over the phone.
It's pretty straightforward.
But there are some things we
Cree don't have words for.
Like there is no word
for a Spitfire plane.
So I've named it "iskotew".
- Fire.
- Yes, fire.
The mustang aircraft...
Wild Horse.
Other common names we use are...
Bee. Seventeen.
Bee. Seventeen.
For the B17
bombers.
What would you say
if an order read,
"20 B17 bombers spotted"?
Twenty...
Bee...
Seventeen...
Guns.
Excellent.
You'll receive codes
from the field in Cree
and then translate
them into English
to the Commanders
here, and vice versa.
The Germans haven't been
able to crack our code.
How did you keep your language?
- Secret codes.
- We've been training
all of our lives.
You can call me Checker.
- Okay. Checker.
- Here, at this school,
we have 324 students
who are being kept
on a strict diet.
A caloric measure that will keep
them in a state of malnutrition.
Little meat, little
fresh vegetables,
and a low-grade flour
which we purchased
at a damn good
price.
This allows us to
keep costs here low,
which I'm sure
you can appreciate
allows for other human luxuries
such as this beautiful meal.
- I think you're stringing
us along for effect.
How are you gathering your data?
- Biochemical tests to
measure protein for growth.
As well as intellectual
and aptitude tests
to see how this affects
their ability to learn.
Nothing conclusive yet.
Naturally, we're seeing
a rise in sickness,
particularly TB and the measles.
Disease feeds on
poverty conditions.
On the other hand, we're
giving 126 of our students
vitamins and iron supplements,
and we are monitoring them.
We keep the food
under lock and key,
and all dietary records
are kept for all meals,
so that we can
manage the outcome.
- Perseverance.
- It's too much.
They need more food.
Nonsense.
Nonsense, Thomas.
You know, I worry about
this new generation.
Too soft.
Just off the boat
to boot.
I think that we owe a lot to
your mother country, Mr. Miller.
If it wasn't for England,
the residential school
system would never exist.
Industrial...
- They were abolished in 1843.
- Industrial schools were
what made England great.
Colonization of Ireland,
South Africa, Australia,
New Zealand, and now Canada.
Indians... All of them,
one way or another.
Not a shred of
civilization combined.
What's the name of the
Deputy... Indian Affairs fellow?
What did he call it?
- The Final Solution
to the Indian problem.
Duncan Campbell
Scott.
I mean, Your Excellency
rarely speaks,
but when he does... One-two!
Come on, Thomas,
don't look so glum.
- John A. Macdonald said
if you want to motivate
the Indian, you must starve him.
Who are we to argue
with such visionaries?
Progress waits for no man.
Thomas.
Would you get
Aline to play Bach?
The piece I requested.
- Oh... Yes.
Hey!
- A prodigy in our midst.
It is a great mystery
that someone of her race,
with no training, with no access
to the cultured things in life,
can play like a young wonder.
God works his
miracles in all of us
and he's merciful to be sure.
Oh. Young Thomas also
had news. Please, share.
- I've been accepted
as a deacon.
- Our man of the cloth.
Welcome to the brotherhood.
- You've gotten skinny.
You okay?
- I will be.
Word is it could be
months, or even weeks.
- We'll get to set
up a home soon.
Start a family.
- I haven't heard the word
"home" in a long time.
You?
- No.
We'll have to decide
where we want to live.
They'll give us land
when we're released.
- I wouldn't count on it.
Indian guys that have
been shipped off to Canada
got nothing.
No land. No benefits.
We can't count on anything.
- Things have changed.
- I know, you think...
being in a special secret
unit makes you special.
But you wait.
They take everything in
you, leave you nothing.
Like why is it you
can't even tell
your own husband what you do?
- I took an oath.
- An oath?
You took an oath to me.
Or that doesn't count?
Any other secrets
you haven't told me?
- What are you talking about?
- How many men were
you with before me?
There's... There's something
you're not telling me.
Some secret inside you.
I'm sorry.
I love you.
It's just...
It's been a long damn war.
It's been a long damn war.
Adam, look!
Stop it...
Stop it... what is this?
It's going to be all right.
It's going to be alright.
- You look worried, Aline.
The surgery on your hand
is going to go just fine.
You won't feel a thing.
- I wish that was true.
Could have been true.
- We'll count you
down backwards.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...
Four...
Three...
Two...
Run!
We ask
that you forgive the sins
of these children. In
Jesus Christ's name.
You didn't think your master
escape would go unpunished?
We'll go to the post.
- God takes one thing away...
and gives another.
- It was my grandmother's song.
She used to sing it
to my brother and me.
- Don't you think
it's too early?
Something... wrong might happen.
- It'll make her stronger.
- Her?
- It's a her.
I know it.
- Are you scared?
- No.
We'll be okay.
Are you scared?
- Yeah. A little.
- That's why we have each other.
We'll make it work.
You're leaving next week.
And... I just have
one more deployment.
You'll finally have
the use of your...
left hand again,
maybe even play
piano with two hands.
And we can finally start this
life we've been talking about.
We'll have this baby girl,
and then we can have a boy.
- You're getting
ahead of yourself.
- I'm just so happy.
I'm so happy.
What's wrong?
Talk to me.
- When things are too good...
I'm just scared that
things will be taken away.
You're so happy.
I don't want to
spoil everything.
- You're not
spoiling everything.
The war is almost over.
Who will take them away?
- I don't know.
I just have a feeling...
that something bad is coming.
And we won't be able
to protect them.
- From what?
The world.
- It's the law, Matthew.
You'll go to jail
if you don't sign.
You don't want to
go to jail, hmm?
Think of the education
they will receive.
You want that,
don't you, January?
For them to be educated?
Think about that.
Maybe they won't have
to live like this
for the rest of their lives.
They can have a real future.
- I want my children home
where they should be.
Children need their parents.
We provide for them!
We love them!
- I'm tired of the jawing here.
All the Squaw needs to know
is we can throw them in jail
and throw away the key.
- Won't be much good
to your children then.
- Ah.
That's a smart man, Matthew.
One day, your family
will thank you for this.
You'll see.
We don't always know
what's best for ourselves.
That's why we have the
government and the church
to look after our
best interests.
Momma... Momma, look at me!
Aline. Now.
- Let go! No!
Momma! Momma!
Mom!
Momma! Momma!
Do something! Do something!
I curse you! I told
you not to sign!
I told you this
is what they do...
I curse you...
Please, Creator,
not this! Not this!
Perseverance.
It's gonna be alright.
- Almost there. Wake up!
Momma...
You fucking animal.
You fucking pig.
Everybody out!
- Suzanne, your inmate
ID number is J503445.
Rose, your inmate ID
number is J503097.
Perseverance, your inmate
ID number is J503448.
Your number is 58.
You are 58. Do you understand?
Move!
Your inmate ID number is...
- Rude.
Shit.
What the hell now?
- That ain't so bad.
At least, we got this
big old lock between us.
Keeps us in, but on the
other hand, keeps them out.
- Amen, sister.
- Where you from?
- Dene. Little Duck Lake. You?
- Cree. Outside of Brandon.
- They imprisoned some
real famous Crees here
from the beginning...
and now you.
Chief Poundmaker,
Chief Big Bear.
- I feel at home now.
- Oh, and one crazy lady
who screamed all the time.
Probably from my
tribe.
- Shit...
- Hey, you got kids?
- Yeah.
Three.
I signed some paper so
I could see them sooner.
Both the detective and the
lady from Family Services
said it was the best
thing to get them back.
Hmm.
You?
- They took him. Foster care.
Haven't seen him
since he was born.
- I'm sorry.
- It's in the past.
- My sister's coming. I'm
gonna ask her to help out.
- That's good.
You got a plan.
- Tonight?
- Shh!
- What do you mean tonight?
- When everyone is asleep
and only Sister
Theresa is on watch.
I want you to get down, make
your way to the broom closet.
And then, I'll meet you
there. You understand?
Perseverance, look at me.
Once we start, we won't
be able to turn around.
Johnnie and Tye will be
waiting by the tool shed.
We'll wait until
the coast is clear.
We'll get as far as we can.
Then, we'll follow the
trapline back home.
They won't think of that.
- We'll see Mom and Dad, right?
We'll be home, everything
will be like it was.
You promise?
Promise
- Be careful.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- You look... You look good.
- Liar.
- Your turn.
- You look good, Perseverance.
- Bullshit.
I look like shit.
- Alright. Glad
that's over with.
- I'm sorry I missed
Adam's funeral.
- It was seven years ago.
I wouldn't worry about it.
- I heard you moved to Toronto.
- We needed a fresh start.
- How's that working for you?
- Fine.
- Look, I...
I need you to find my kids.
I need you to find out
where they put them.
Can you do that?
- I'll do everything that I can.
- You promise?
Promise
- Eight years is a long time.
- I know how to do time.
Plus, I'll get out
for good behaviour.
- I doubt it.
- Sis, I've changed.
Reformed-like, shit.
Mm-hmm. AA-ing it. NA-ing it.
Learning how to
trade.
- You should have said,
learning a trade...
Not learning to trade.
- Oh...
Oh, man, it was good to see you.
- Alright, I'm gonna have
to ask you folks to leave.
- I hate to leave you here.
- This way, this way!
- Is that what you
said to yourself?
- Wait up, Aline. Wait up.
- Perseverance?
Perseverance!
Come here!
Come!
- Yes, Father?
- Come on, Tye. We're close.
We have to keep moving.
- Perseverance.
You have to tell me.
What way are they going?
They're not on the main roads.
No?
No...
This is not you, Perseverance.
Hmm?
You're so beautiful,
Perseverance.
Now, be a good girl and
tell me where they are.
Right now.
I could kill you and
bury you out back,
and nobody...
nobody would care.
Tell me, Perseverance,
or so help me God!
- Tye.
We have to keep moving.
Johnnie, he's not breathing!
- You did the right thing.
- How did they know?
- Mama!
- Fucking stupid slut!
- Oh, fuck you, asshole!
Aline...
Hold my hand.
Aline.
Can you hold my hand?
Hmm.
You don't have to worry.
The monster isn't under the bed,
it's on top of us.
I love you.
Shut the fuck up, you whore!
Shh!
- He's gone to a better place.
- Did you tell our
parents? They should know.
- What would you
like me to tell them?
That you and Johnnie
planned to run away?
And you took little
Tye with you?
And he died from the cold?
How about I tell them
he died of influenza,
like many of the
sinful children here?
Somehow, that seems
more merciful.
Head down.
Dear Lord, we ask that you
forgive Aline and Johnnie
for causing the death of
their younger brother.
We ask that you forgive
the sins of these children.
In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
Johnnie, Father Jacobs is
waiting for you in his parlour.
You should get along now.
After this fiasco,
this is the last time
you will see him here.
Take a good long
look at your brother.
Perseverance, I have
business with your sister.
It's time for you to
go back to your dorm.
Perseverance, now.
You didn't think your master
escape would go unpunished?
I want you to take
off your sweater.
Faster!
Excellent.
We'll go down to the post.
- Mom, what are you doing?
Jake! Get out here!
Mom?
- I miss them.
Tye was just a baby.
- I know. I know, Mom.
- Did you find out any more
about Perseverance's children?
Where they are...
- We're getting closer.
They were adopted
out. You knew that.
They're in the States. I
told you that last week.
- Mom.
- You said that.
I know you said that.
- Mom. Mom.
You have to come down now.
You can come down.
- Mom!
I think I'm
losing my balance.
I think I've lost my balance.
I want to fall.
Perseverance is not missing.
She's dead.
Her face...
Her beautiful face.
- Let's go inside, Momma.
It's cold out here.
- Mom, please.
- I wish your father was here.
- Did you think you
were above everything?
- No, Sister.
- Did you think your actions
would not have consequences?
- No, Sister.
- You are not above me.
You are just another
worthless Indian in the dirt.
Let's see how special you are
when you can't play your piano.
You think you're untouchable,
but God sees everything,
and he can get to you.
Father.
- Shh.
- Father, she tried to...
- She's only an Indian, but
she was a special Indian.
A child prodigy.
The tiniest glimpse of promise in these
flat-tired miles of mud and ignorance.
She was a symbol that
what we are doing here
in this residential
school is above others.
From a savage to a
world-class pianist.
Such a possibility existed.
But now...
- Aline? Aline!
- Aline!
Aline!
- She has two broken
ribs from the fall,
and her hand...
- What about her piano?
- I'm sorry.
- I won't be able to play?
- You have other talents.
God takes one thing away...
and gives another.
Your God just keeps taking.
I know... you are
hurting, Aline,
but you must watch
your language.
- Adam, are you getting dressed?
- I am dressed.
Every Sunday, you get dressed,
and our children get dressed.
All so pretty.
And every Sunday, you
ask me the same question.
Are you getting dressed?
Don't ask me again.
What are you going to do when
they touch your precious babies?
I asked you a question.
Dear Jesus. Dear, dear Jesus.
Please help me forgive.
Let them fuck me
and my children,
but help me forgive.
- Enough!
- When is enough, enough?
It is enough, isn't it?
- Why don't you go
have another drink?
- You okay?
Did I make you cut
yourself?
I'm the mad one.
Okay? It's me who's mad.
I can fight their goddamn wars,
but I can't get a job
like a man should.
You want to know what
an Indian man is worth?
Aline, I'm talking to you. You
want to know what I'm worth?
My eye and my leg...
are worth 300 dollars.
The government wants to pay
me 300 for my eye and my leg.
They took away my Indian Status
because I joined the war,
but I can't be a citizen of
Canada because I'm an Indian,
so I don't get any
veteran pensions.
Three hundred f...
I guess that's what happens
when you think the war is over.
Don't go.
Don't go now. Stay with me.
- We'll pick up a few
things from the store,
be home by noon.
- Fuck me.
Fuck them.
As a result of this, we
can let them abolish the Indian Act
and make them citizens of
Canada like everyone else.
But we've learned in the process
that perhaps we were
a bit too theoretical,
we were a bit too
abstract, we were not...
- Okay, James. We're going
to get you now, okay?
Together. Be careful.
You've said
yourselves it would take time.
It will take time.
But in order to reach
some kind of agreement,
we have to trust each
other a little bit.
- In... Indian?
- Come on.
There is no way
that we are going to give up...
especially when we are threatened
with cultural genocide.
- Yesterday, Indian Affairs
Minister Jean Chrtien
refused to commit
government funds and support
to a national Indian committee
that would look at the state
of Indian rights and treaties.
- Can you turn the
damn politics off?
It's giving me a headache.
Sorry, Father.
Still got that potty mouth.
Aline can do it.
Sit for a minute, dear.
Whoever heard of a Red Paper?
Indians, that's who!
Indians think they can
get everything for nothing
when all we ever do
is bend over backwards
trying to give you people
everything that we have worked for.
- Trudeau was just in New
Zealand dancing with the Maori.
Did you see that?
He's quite the character.
I think he might have come
to a new understanding
of what Aboriginal means,
and I think Chretien
just adopted an Inuit boy.
Maybe this will somehow
help to bridge...
- What are your
children up to, Aline?
You have a son and a
daughter, I understand.
Did you ever have any
dreams for yourself
other than wiping
my father's old ass?
Sorry, Father.
I'm always saying
that I'm sorry.
You can speak freely here.
- Hmm.
My daughter, Taylor,
graduates this week as
a lawyer from Queens,
and my son, Jake,
just got accepted into the
Royal College of Art in London.
Myself, I wanted to
be a concert pianist.
But... life makes decisions
for us, doesn't it?
I work as a housekeeper
during the day.
And then, I come here
and I wipe your father's
old ass at night
because us Indian people,
we've been trying to clean
your shit up for decades.
Jake, honey, will you
grab the champagne?
- Yup.
- Ah, Mom, it's so beautiful.
I feel bad we have to cut it.
- I don't. I want
to eat it all.
When we were younger,
we were only allowed
to have one piece each,
but I think you'll have the
whole thing to yourself.
- Uncle Jake!
- They're just jealous.
- To my daughter, the lawyer.
Your dad would be
so proud of you.
I'm proud of you.
You did it.
- I did it because of you, Mom.
- We better cheers before
someone starts crying.
- Percy, you can just leave it.
It's my turn.
- She'll run off the sugar.
- What was my grandfather like?
- Like you.
Fierce.
And smart.
- It's going to be alright.
- I don't want anything
bad to happen to you.
You don't let anyone hurt you.
You promise?
- I promise.
Can you write it for me?
In Cree. Mom said you know how,
that it's buried inside of you.
- She said that, did she?
Promise
Play something for me, will you?
You're going to be an
amazing piano player.
Just like your Kokum.
- You smell good.
- You smell like you've
been drinking for two days.
- That's because I have
been drinking for two days.
Which you already know.
I think you want to say more.
You want to say...
I look handsome despite myself.
- I do, that's
what I want to say.
You good?
- Better.
Let off some steam.
- Do you want some breakfast?
- Stay right here, love.
Just like this.
Me and the boys didn't
finish cleaning up
'cause, you know,
we got carried away.
So I'll finish, be
back in a jiffy.
We'll start the day off right.
Just keep playing.
I love you just like this.
You look so beautiful.
- Good morning!
It's time to get up! Come on!
Good morning, sleepyhead. Hello!
I'll make pancakes!
With blueberries.
- Boo-berries...
- Blueberries.
- Boo-berries.
- Yeah! Does that sound good?
- Ted? You guys still here?
- Boo-berry.
- Hey, there.
I don't think you
should be here.
Grandmother's
prayers stayed with me...
but so did everything else.
You're my brave boy.
You're my favourite boy.
Come now, Adam.
You can walk with Joseph.
- Tears won't do
you no good here.
You're gonna see things
you'll never forget.
You gotta keep it inside you.
- Come along, boys. I'll
take you to the school.
It's in you.
You're going to hurt them.
- I love them more
than anything.
- Doesn't mean you're not
going to let it leak out.
Joseph did. He couldn't
handle it, how can you?
- I'm a man.
- They made him beat other
kids. They made him hurt you.
- I would never do that.
- You say that, but
you're still with me.
I didn't feel anything
when I saw him, but...
- Relief.
We were relieved.
- What kind of monsters
are we to feel that?
- Adam!
Adam! Adam!
- Mom?
- Please, Adam!
Please, please, Adam! Adam!
You said we would
do this together!
You said we would
do this together!
Honey, please!
- Mom?
- No!
Stay. Stay. Stay there.
It's a historic
day, and years in the making,
but finally, residential
school survivors from Canada
are here in Rome, Italy,
to tell their truth
about what happened at residential
schools to their people.
Friday is the general
audience with the pope
where hopefully
all of the stories
and all of the information
that he's heard
from the delegates this
week will make a difference.
And we'll be here to
cover more stories
as we go through the week.
Brothers and sisters,
I would like to
thank the cardinal
for organizing this
delegation from Canada.
I would like to
express our sorrow
at the anguish caused
by the deplorable conduct of
some members of the church.
I offer you our sympathy
and prayerful solidarity
to those who are
still living with
the consequences of their experiences
at the residential schools.
Acts of abuse cannot be
tolerated in society.
Thank you very much
and God bless you all.
His Excellency would like to ask
if any of the residential
school survivors
would like to take this
opportunity to speak
or be heard by His Holiness.
- My mother would like
to speak in her language,
our language. Cree.
I will translate for her.
My name is Aline Spears,
I am from the Cree Nation
in Manitoba, Canada.
I am 86 years old.
I would like to ask if
Cardinal Thomas Miller
is the same Cardinal
Thomas Miller
who was the head of
the Royal Commission
on Sexual Abuse in Canada.
Then The Holy See on sexual
abuse here at the Vatican,
and now the Vatican Treasurer.
- Yes, that is correct.
Cardinal Thomas Miller.
- I first knew him
as Thomas Miller,
a 17-year-old piano teacher
at the residential
school I attended.
Then as Deacon Miller, then
as Father Thomas Miller.
Then as the man who
sexually abused me...
at 16... and impregnated me.
- My turn.
- Are you alright?
- I'm fine, just tired.
- You should get some sleep.
- You should get some sleep.
I don't want to talk about it.
- I wasn't going to ask.
- You were.
I'm ready to go home.
- I know.
I know you are.
You did good today.
- I want my baby.
Give me my baby.
- He was born... stillborn.
- You heard him crying.
He's alive and you know it.
- He's dead to you.
It's better this way.
- For who?
- I don't know.
- Where will they take him?
- They will take him and
bury him down by the river.
- I will tell someone.
I will tell anyone
who will listen.
- Do you think anyone
would believe you?
- If the future can be erased
by the stamp of a boot...
Why would you let them?
How could you let them?
- I didn't have a choice.
- You're a woman.
- A child who's had a child
makes you a child no longer.
We're both prisoners of
our own circumstances.
- Is that how you see it?
Is that how... you
make it alright?
- I'm sorry.
If that's what you need to hear.
I am sorry about everything.
- I don't need your sorrow.
I need your protection.
You... owe me that.
You know he'll come at me again.
- You are an Indian.
I don't owe you anything.
And even if I did,
how can I protect you
when I can't even
protect myself?
- You took my protection away
when you broke the
bones in my hand.
- I knew that.
I knew that.
- I'm so tired.
You're almost there.
You'll go the rest
of the way yourself.
- Where am I going?
- You'll know soon enough.
Momma?
Momma.
My baby.
I know, my girl...
I know.
Shh...
Let's get you cleaned up.
Sixteen is the youngest
we can take them in,
even with parental consent.
- She's 16, for sure.
- We have a train leaving
tonight for Montreal.
She'll be in basic
training there.
We could get her on that
if that's not too early.
- That's perfect.
- I don't want to go.
I want to stay... with you.
And see Dad and
Perseverance and Johnnie.
- I want those things too,
but the only way
we can make sure
they don't send you
back to that school
is to send you to war.
It's funny, eh?
You promise me that you
won't look back... for us?
You're not being
selfish, my girl.
We need you to because...
you are our tomorrow. Hmm?
- Will you be here
when I get back?
- Your Dad and me
will always be here.
- No, I mean be here, be here.
- I'll see what I can do.
- There's nothing left to see.
We are not us... without them.
They are not them...
without us.
- Mom!
- Lina, take this.
There's gonna come a time
when your life is so perfect...
and you'll feel the darkness
and it'll threaten
to take it all away.
You don't let it.
You don't let them win.
You be everything that
you are meant to be.
Promise me.
Promise me!
- I promise.
You remind
me of her, my mother.
- People say I
remind them of you.
- I wanted to see
you before I left.
That was... quite
the dramatic reunion.
They are placing me on leave.
I am flying back
to Canada tonight.
To face the music, as they say.
Even if I am charged,
even if I am convicted...
of sexual abuse,
the church council will
likely drag it out.
And with any luck...
I will be dead by then.
Or we both will be.
A surprising bit of grace
offered at this old age.
Was there not one good thing
we gave you at
residential school?
Not one ounce of goodness
that came from it?
Surely, you learned
something from us
that sustained you in your life.
- What I've learned
from defending
Indigenous survivors...
who were defenseless children...
is that they might
have lived in poverty,
but they knew love.
What you taught them...
was an education in
unrelenting cruelty.
Of course, it's you.
Her daughter.
The lawyer.
What are you now?
- A Truth and
Reconciliation Commissioner.
- You must have been just
like her when you were young.
I can see it in your face.
Did she ever play again, piano?
- Yes.
Of course she did.
She could have been...
- She could have
been a lot of things.
But what she was, and is,
is an amazing mother.
What did you do with the child?
How did you make him disappear?
- I don't know what
you are implying.
What kind of monsters
do you think we are?
- Do you really want
me to answer that?
- He was adopted.
By a family who
couldn't conceive.
- How Christian of you.
I would imagine
there are no records?
One more thing, Your Eminence.
The Indian Residential School
Settlement is only the beginning.
The Truth and
Reconciliation Commission
is gathering the voices of all
the residential school survivors.
So that old age and time
will offer you little grace.
Your name will live on
as the sexual molester you are,
and as the protector of
serial child abusers.
Your life's work.
Enjoy your flight.
- I've said all
I've come to say.
You know everything about me.
Well, not everything,
but you know.
Are we done here?
- We'll just take your mic off.
- Oh, right.
- Is there anything we haven't
asked that you would like to tell?
I think the story goes on.
- Taylor, bring me my
purse there by my coat.
- You can give it
to her, it's fine.
What do we have here?
It looks like a music score.
- It's a song, that's a map.
It's the only way
we could record it
without them knowing.
The staff are the
banks of the river,
except they are curved.
Bass clef is South,
treble is North.
Half notes are trees.
Whole notes is...
is where...
they... they buried him.
The breath mark is where we
thought they buried others.
- Who is "him"?
- It's where they
buried my brother, Tye.
When he was eight.
When we tried to run away.
- Mom.
Mom.
- Yes, I can hear.
- Sorry. I just wanted to
make sure you were okay.
- I want to go home.
- I know, Mom.
- I'm...
I'm tired.
This whole thing
has tired me out.
My whole life has tired me out.
- We can just sit for a minute.
- You should get married.
- What? Where'd that come
from? You should get married.
- You never know, I just might
get a new man now that I'm 86.
- A rich family member
would be nice for a change.
You'd take a hit for
the team.
- There's so many
things I didn't know.
- I didn't want you to carry
more than you already did.
You were always so serious,
taking care of all of us.
You are my voice.
You...
You are my dream.
- Jake?
- My fire.
- Grandad?
- My love.
- Those we have lost?
- My marrow.
My bones.
Our bones.
- You sound different.
- How?
- You sound like
you're saying goodbye.
We don't say goodbye.
We say nikawapamitin.
- Nikawapamitin.
Okay, let's go get
ready for Percy's concert.
I will see you soon
I love you just like this
How the light hits you so
So beautiful I could cry
And I have all I have
Because I missed you so
You're my home
I'll meet you up ahead
Where perfect
days will remain
I'll meet you over the hill
I am free.
Wind in our hair
Sun on our faces
Whispering you are mine
You are my bones
Shine on, shine on
You are so beautiful
I could cry
Shine on, shine on
You are my home
You are my fire
You are my song
In our
dreams, in your dreams.
In our bones, in your bones.
This dream can take generations.
Do you think wishes come true?
It might seem impossible...
But make no mistake.
Aline.
- I'm Adam.
We are here.
I've missed you
And I have all I have
You are my home
You are my bones
Shine on, shine on
You are my voice
I promise you are
Shine on, shine one
You are my home
You are my fire
You are my bones
I knew it wasn't
going to be a good place
the first step that I
put into the building.
I went to the
residential school,
transported, you
see, in that truck.
It looked like a cattle truck.
All of my siblings,
we all went in together.
The priests and nuns came and
my brothers went that way,
and my sisters went that way,
and I never seen them again.
- The residential
school system took away
my language, my culture...
And my identity.
- Mental abuse, physical abuse,
sexual abuse that
I witnessed here,
no amount of money,
no counselor can ever
take that away from my mind.
- And then they scrubbed
us down with disinfectants
like we were diseased
little animals.
- Sometimes, they would
get so sick from the food
that they ate, you know,
that they would vomit.
The staff
and the supervisors
were being fed bacon and eggs
that was delivered to them
at the head of the dining area
and they would sit there
like kings and queens.
The residential
school was like being in jail.
A life in prison for
a crime you did not commit.
And my only crime was
being born Indian.
- They didn't teach us
love. They taught us fear.
I remember being awakened
and taken out of the room...
and then being sexually
abused by the priest.
The residential
school kills feelings in you.
The old saying, you beat
the Indian out of the child?
Sometimes, you beat the
humanity out of the child.
- The priests and the nuns...
failed us as Indian children
put into their care.
Very badly.
They were the problem.
I wasn't. We weren't
the problem as children.
The Truth and Reconciliation
Commission identified 3 200 deaths
of children in
residential schools,
but the real number is higher.
So many records are lacking.
The chair of the commission
Murray Sinclair has said
the number of children who
died could be as high as 6 000.
- But I don't want to
look at being a survivor,
I want to be a warrior
towards justice
and wellness and healing.