(suspenseful music)
- John a. Macdonald said, "if you want to motivate
The indian, you must starve him."
- What are you feeling?
- Free.
- Did you think you were above everything?
(screaming)
- Such a possibility existed...
(intense music)
- Aline!
- I just have a feeling...
(screaming)
...Something bad is coming.
(ominous music)
(fluttering)
(crow cawing)
- The dream is to build a larger
And greater system of federal schools
So that we can continue to disrupt the indian way of life.
And also allow us to further control the land,
So that we can continue to build this great country of ours.
My esteemed colleagues have done an exhausting investigation
Into indian boarding schools in the united states
And their success in eradicating their indian problem,
The findings of which have been written in this report
On industrial schools for indians and half-breeds called "the davin report",
A draft which is in front of you now.
- The fact is, if you wish to educate these children,
You must separate them during the time they're being educated.
- If the school is on the reserve,
The child lives with its parents.
He is surrounded by savages.
So even if he learns to read and write, his habits,
His habits, his training, his modes of thought are indian.
He is simply a savage who can read and write.
- Indian children should be withdrawn as much
As possible from parental influence.
- Separating them in this way proposed, they acquire habits and taste...
It is to be hoped, only the good taste of civilized people.
- Hear, hear!
(crows cawing)
(tense music)
(ominous music)
(crows cawing)
(indigenous drums beating)
(vocalizing)
- Hey! No. No way.
(drumming continues)
(vocalizing continues)
Perseverance!
(speaking cree)
(huffing)
(speaking cree)
Hey!
(January): Perseverance, come back here.
(distant sirens wailing)
(sighing)
(cans clanking)
(rapid breathing)
(creaking)
(gasping)
- Momma. - It's okay.
(baby crying)
(suspenseful music)
- You fucking animal. You fucking pig.
You fucking molester! Stay away from my children!
(grunting)
(beer bottles clanking)
(thudding)
(sirens wailing)
- Perseverance, open the door.
(perseverance yelling): Fuck you!
(thwacking)
- I never fucking liked it!
(caretaker): Open the door!
(door opening)
(grunting)
(baby crying)
(sobbing)
- I never liked it. I never...
(lock buzzing)
(cell door closing)
(groaning)
I want to see my children.
- You almost killed a man.
- He's not a man.
(detective smith exhaling slowly)
He's still alive.
- Barely.
Things we know for sure, he'll never be the same.
- That ship sailed a long time ago.
He was never the same after they got to him
In residential school.
(scoffing)
- That's supposed to mean something to me?
Make me sad?
- I don't give a fuck what you are.
Truth is...
(sniffles)
Bashing dwayne's pathetic face in...
Was quite healing for me.
- How's that?
(exhaling deeply)
- When I was looking at him...
...All I could see were the priests that fucked me.
(scoffing)
- You gotta get over it.
- I don't do sugar.
Just kidding.
- Smoke?
- Always.
Did you call my sister or what?
- She's coming. It's gonna take her a couple
Of days to get down here.
We're gonna transfer you to vaughan street jail
For processing.
- Hmm. Do I get a lawyer? Mm.
(sighing) - make it easy on yourself.
Just confess. Everybody knows you did it.
You sign, that's a lot of goodwill there.
You'll get to see your kids soon.
That's what you want, right?
Sign right there.
We'll get things sorted for you.
(tense music)
You did the right thing.
- 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. Hmm?
(January weeping softly)
(speaking cree)
- Aline. Now...
(sombre music)
(aline speaking cree): Nikawiy... Nikawiy, kinwapamin!
(thudding)
(children screaming)
- Nikawiy! Nikawiy!
(screaming) - put me down!
(baby crying)
(engine starting)
(screaming) - let go of me!
(exclaiming)
Momma!
(baby crying)
(engine rattling)
- Nohtawiy! Nikawiy!
(sombre music)
(haunting music)
(vehicle approaching)
(screaming in cree)
(hysterical screaming)
(exclaiming in cree)
(haunting music)
(rattling)
(haunting music)
(man): Everybody out.
(breaks squealing)
(vehicle door slamming)
(prison gate buzzing)
(door buzzing)
(door slamming)
(prison officer): 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?
(pensive music)
(prison guard): Move!
(prison officer): Your inmate id number is...
(water splashing)
(indistinct chatter echoing)
- Strip down and leave your pile of clothes at your feet.
(water splashing)
(ominous music)
(speaking cree)
- You are forbidden to speak the devil's language.
We've told you once. Can you hear?
(prison guard): Move it!
(prison guard): Wake up! Take off your clothes!
Get in the shower now!
(tense music)
(metal door slamming)
- Rude.
Shit. What the hell now?
- That ain't so bad.
At least we got this big old lock between us.
(sighing)
Keeps us in, but on the other hand,
It keeps them out.
- Amen, sister.
- Yo, where you from?
- Dene. Little duck lake. You?
- Cree. Just outside of brandon.
- They imprisoned some real famous crees here
From the beginning...
And now you, chief poundmaker, chief big bear.
- Hmm, well, I feel at home now.
- Oh, and one crazy lady who was screaming all the time,
Probably from my tribe.
(chuckling) - 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.
(snickers)
Do you?
- They took him, foster care.
I 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.
(suspenseful music)
- Tonight? - Shh!
- What do you mean tonight?
- When everyone is asleep and only sister theresa's
On watch, I want you to get down
And 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?
(banging)
(tense music)
- Be careful.
(child coughing)
(banging)
(sombre music)
(phone ringing)
(door slamming)
(coughing)
(indistinct chatter echoing)
- Hey...
- Hey.
- You look... You look good.
- Liar.
- Your turn.
- You look good, perseverance.
(scoffing)
- Bullshit. I look like shit.
- All right. Glad that's over with.
- Mm. I'm sorry I missed adam's funeral.
- That was seven years ago. I wouldn't worry about it.
- Well, 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.
Could you do that?
- I'll do everything that I can.
- You promise?
(solemn music)
- Eight years is a long time.
- I know how to do time.
(sniffling)
Plus I'll get out for good behaviour.
(giggling)
(chuckling) - I doubt it.
- Sis, I've changed.
Reformed, like shit.
Mm-hmm. Aa-ing it. Na-ing it.
I'm learning to trade.
(chuckling) - you should have said,
Learning a trade, not learning to trade.
(laughing)
- Oh.
Oh, man, it was good to see you.
(buzzer sounds)
(guard): We're now gonna have to ask you folks to leave.
Thank you.
(indistinct chattering)
(tense music)
- I hate to leave you here.
(prison guard): This way, this way.
- Is that what you said to yourself?
(child coughing)
(tense music)
- Wait up, aline. Wait up.
(door closes)
(footsteps thudding)
- Perseverance?
Perseverance!
(footsteps approaching)
Come here!
Come!
- Yes, father?
(suspenseful music)
(rattling)
(whispering prayers)
(ominous music)
(fluttering)
(distant siren blaring)
(train rattling)
(distorted eerie music)
- Momma.
- Fucking stupid slut!
- Oh, fuck you, asshole!
- Perseverance...
You have to tell me.
What way are they going?
They're not on the main roads.
No?
(sighs)
This is not you, perseverance. Hmm?
You're so beautiful, perseverance.
Now, be a good girl and tell me where they are. Right now.
(whimpering)
I could kill you and bury you out back, and nobody...
Nobody will care!
Tell me, perseverance, or so help me god!
(sniffling)
(intense music)
Oh.
(whimpering)
You make things harder on yourself than they have to be.
You did the right thing.
You always do, the right thing.
(footsteps receding)
(ominous music)
(music escalates)
(distorted whirring)
(ominous music)
(door closing)
- Hey, honey.
Look at you.
(intense music)
(grunting)
(distorted whirring)
- Aline. Can you hold my hand?
Aline...
(speaking cree)
Hmm.
(speaking cree)
(humming cree warrior song)
(singing cree warrior song)
- Shut the fuck up, you whore!
(shallow breathing)
(grunting)
Shhh.
(muffled singing)
(grunting)
(eerie music)
(distorted whirring)
(eerie music)
(crows cawing)
(suspenseful music)
- Come on, tye. We're close. We have to keep moving.
(wind howling)
(metal snapping)
(screaming)
- It's broken.
- Ow!
- Go get mom and dad. Be careful, run!
(breathing heavily)
- Okay.
(panting)
(snow crunching)
(heavy footsteps)
(yelling in cree)
(horse neighing)
(gasping)
(horse nickers)
- Kaskitewaw, you're here.
I'm so sorry. Look at you, look at you.
(door creaking)
(wind howling)
(neighing)
- Johnnie!
The house is empty, I don't know where mom and dad are...
But we have to keep moving.
(crying)
Get up, johnnie.
Johnnie! Get up!
Tye, we have to keep moving.
He's not breathing...
Johnnie. He's not breathing...
- He had tb, aline.
He was too weak to fight the cold.
- Come on, tye. Please.
(crying)
(both singing cree burial song)
(solemn music)
(crows cawing)
(tense music)
(vehicle approaching)
How did they know?
(taxi driver): You're going to freeze out there.
Besides, your plane leaves in 40 minutes.
(engine accelerating)
(solemn music)
- Can we stop the car? Um, let's give this guy a ride.
(engine slows)
(breaks squealing)
(door opening)
(taxi driver): Heading to the airport.
- You can drop me at mccloud.
(huffing)
(engine accelerating)
- I was looking for you.
- Now you found me.
- I've been looking for perseverance. She's missing.
Or dead.
I thought you should know.
- That's my stop here.
(sighing)
- Don't look back.
(engine accelerating)
- Who was that?
- It's my brother, johnnie.
I haven't seen him in 35 years.
- Then how did you know it was him?
(pensive music)
- I'll always remember the way he walked.
(solemn music)
- 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.
(exhaling deeply)
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.
(ominous music)
Perseverance, I have business with your sister.
It's time for you to go back to your dorm.
Perseverance! Now!
(solemn music)
You didn't think your master escape would go unpunished?
I want you to take off your sweater.
Faster!
Excellent.
Now go down to the post.
(haunting music)
(cup clattering)
(breathing shakily)
(distorted whirring)
(tense music)
(crow cawing)
(eerie music)
(wind howling)
(haunting music)
- Mom? Mom, what are you doing?
Jake, get out here!
Mom?
- I miss them.
Tye...
He was just a baby.
- I know. I know, mom.
(melancholy music)
- 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.
(jake): Mom!
- You said that. I know you said that.
- Mom! Mom!
You have to come down now.
You can come down.
- I saw johnnie. Did I tell you that?
- Mom.
(haunting music)
- 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.
(melancholy music)
- Let's go inside, mama. It's cold out here.
- Mom, please.
- I wish your father was here.
Subtitling: Difuze