SUGARCANE is the first feature-length documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. Part of a groundbreaking investigation, the film highlights the heartbreak and beauty of a community that has worked to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma and find the strength to survive.

The film unfolds in Williams Lake First Nation, British Columbia, also known as the Sugarcane Reserve, or simply “Sugarcane.” In 2021, unmarked graves were discovered on the grounds of a residential school run by the Catholic Church in the city of Kamloops — nearly 300 kilometres to the south — where many Williams Lake children had been sent to school. SUGARCANE examines the years of silence, forced separation, assimilation, and abuse suffered by many Indigenous children in residential schools, as well as the national and international outcry against the schools’ impact on Indigenous communities.

Presented in English with French subtitles
1 hour 47 minutes

This film explores challenging but important subject matter, including discussions of child abuse, infanticide, racism, profanity, alcohol and drug use, and intergenerational trauma and violence.

The Canadian Museum of History prioritizes safety, choice, empowerment and connection. Guests are encouraged to attend the screening with a friend.

Support Resources:

• Indian Residential School Survivors Society
  Survivors and those affected can access support through the 24/7 Crisis Line.
  1-866-925-4419
• Tel-Aide Outaouais
  French-language support, 24 hours a day
  819-775-3223
• Mental Health Crisis Line
  Bilingual support for people ages 16 and over, 24 hours a day
  613-722-6914 or 1-866-996-0991 (toll-free)