Sugarcane

A weathered Madonna and child look out over the landscape of the Sugarcane Reserve near Williams Lake, Canada. This was the site of St. Joseph’s Mission, one of the Catholic boarding schools where the children of indigenous people were re-educated to become ‘good’ North American citizens. Unmarked graves, discovered in 2021, were the first evidence of a long-hidden history of sexual and physical abuse and the disappearance of babies and children. A national investigation ensued.

As archive staff sift through documents and comb the school grounds, co-director Julian Brave NoiseCat gently tries to persuade his father, who was born in the boarding school, to talk. Other victims also confront their pasts. The film gradually exposes the role of the Catholic Church in a colonized society.

With the search for the truth comes the search for acknowledgement. “Saying sorry is a start,” says one of the central figures. “Then there has to be action.” Sugarcane made an impression at various festivals, and has won awards including the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary at Sundance.