Filmmakers Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie have masterfully crafted a thought-provoking and emotionally charged film that delves deep into the complex issues of morality, justice, and intergenerational trauma. Through their documentary, Sugarcane, they invite audiences to confront the dark history of the Williams Lake First Nations people and the lasting impact of the residential school system in Canada and the United States. With their unique backgrounds in activism and journalism, as well as NoiseCat’s personal connection to the story and community, the filmmakers have created a compelling narrative that tugs at the heartstrings and demands our attention.
At the core of Sugarcane is an unwavering sense of humanity and empathy. NoiseCat and Kassie demonstrate an exceptional capacity to empathize with the affected First Nation communities, ensuring that their documentary operates from a place of pure understanding and compassion. They shed light on the resilience of the survivors and their descendants, showcasing their unwavering determination to seek answers and uncover long-buried secrets. The film serves as a powerful reminder to respect the humanity in ourselves and extend that same respect to others.
Saint Joseph Mission residential school stands as a haunting reminder of the devastating impact of the residential school system in Canada. With its aim to assimilate First Nation youth into Euro-Canadian culture, the school stripped students of their cultural practices, languages, and identities. The former students of Saint Joseph’s, like many others who attended residential schools, endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, along with forced family separation and the loss of their culture. The ruins of the school, closed for only three decades, serve as a somber testament to a colonial policy that robbed generations of their childhoods.
The abuses inflicted upon Indigenous children were not limited to Canada alone, but also extended to the United States. American Indian boarding schools, such as Pennsylvania’s Carlisle Indian School, aimed to assimilate native youth into Eurocentric society through forced separation from reservations and the suppression of their culture and language. These schools mirrored the practices seen at Saint Joseph Mission, utilizing harsh discipline, manual labor, and cultural erasure. The film highlights how violence against entire populations elicits varying responses, from calls for justice to the painful self-preservation of secrecy and denial.
With his father having attended a residential school, NoiseCat offers a deeply personal and intimate perspective on the collective harms suffered by First Nation communities. The film explores the different responses to trauma, with Charlene Belleau channeling her experiences into activism while NoiseCat’s father seeks personal healing. Despite the pain, Sugarcane presents a narrative steeped in humanity and empathy, displaying solidarity with the Williams Lake First Nation and their ongoing struggle to reclaim their culture and seek reparations.
As investigations into the missing children who attended residential schools continue, Sugarcane acts as a powerful witness to the grief and suffering that has long been hidden in the shadows. The film recognizes the complex nature of moving forward, balancing the need for proper commemoration with the necessary protection of survivors from retraumatization. NoiseCat and Kassie advocate for sensitive community-centered reconciliation, allowing space for conflicting viewpoints within affected bands. Their documentary serves as a testament to the resilience of communities like the Williams Lake First Nation, who have persevered despite the attempts to erase their existence.
Sugarcane, produced by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, is a deeply affecting and essential documentary that shines a light on the tragic legacy of residential schools. Through their multilayered narrative, the filmmakers invite us to confront the uncomfortable truths of intergenerational trauma and the lasting effects of cultural erasure. It is a film that demands our attention and calls for a reevaluation of our collective history. With empathy and determination, NoiseCat and Kassie have crafted a powerful testament to the resilience of Indigenous communities and a reminder of the humanity we must preserve in ourselves and extend to others.
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