More than 200 people gathered at Ontario Tech’s Regent Theatre last week for the screening of ‘Sugarcane’, an Oscar-nominated, powerful and emotionally-charged documentary about Canada’s residential school system.
It left some audience members feeling sad yet determined to see the Calls to Action outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission come to fruition.
‘Sugarcane’ explores the experiences of First Nations elders who endured trauma at St. Joseph’s Mission School, a former residential school in central British Columbia.
The film follows an ongoing investigation into unmarked graves at the site and shares the stories of survivors who lived through the horrors of the institution. It also touches on the infanticide of babies created as result of sexual assault of students by priests.
Throughout the film, the audience responded with gasps and whispers of “Oh, my God.”
“It was almost like the ‘Indian’ were a different breed altogether,” said attendee Marlene Allen. “So, I’m really happy to see that this is coming to light.”
Honesty is at the heart of ‘Sugarcane’. While the film features striking visuals of the surrounding landscape, the information revealed about the school is disturbing, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
Audience member Gail Koidis praised the film’s emotional depth but noted some challenges with its structure, particularly around the people investigating the unmarked graves.
“I’ve seen other films and I found this one kind of hard to follow,” she said. “I think there should have been more information as to who those people were and what their connection was, like the investigative people.”
‘Sugarcane’ doesn’t just inform, it confronts. It exposes painful truths and reminds viewers that reconciliation is a process that requires listening, learning and action, according to co-director Julian Brave NoiseCat, who sent a pre-recorded message to the audience.
“This is a story definitely worth telling,” Koidis added.
The screening also served as a safe space for those in attendance to reflect. An area was set up and available for anyone to use after the film, to engage in conversation, share stories and burn sage.
NoiseCat will be at the Regent Theatre in Oshawa in November to discuss the film and his new book We Survived the Night.