The discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at an Indian residential school in Canada in 2021 was the catalyst for “Sugarcane.”
Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, the filmmakers behind the Oscar-nominated documentary, spent years investigating the systemic abuses of just one such institution. Now streaming on Hulu, “Sugarcane” unveils a horrifying pattern of infanticide and babies born to Indigenous girls fathered by priests, exposing the harrowing truths of these state-funded schools.
Since its Sundance Film Festival debut, “Sugarcane” has sparked a movement, screening at the White House, Canadian Parliament, and Indigenous communities across North America. It marks the first Oscar nomination for an Indigenous North American filmmaker, shining a spotlight on a painful chapter in history.
From the 19th century to the 1970s, over 150,000 First Nations children were forced into Canadian residential schools as part of assimilation efforts, facing abuse, conversion to Christianity, and loss of their language. Thousands died, with similar abuses documented in U.S. boarding schools. Kassie and NoiseCat’s investigation reveals the widespread atrocities that defined these institutions.
For Kassie, the project became deeply personal, tracing her work as a human rights documentarian back to her home country. Her collaboration with NoiseCat revealed connections to his own family’s history at St. Joseph’s Mission, near the Sugarcane Reservation in British Columbia. This personal journey unearthed buried truths, including NoiseCat’s father’s traumatic beginnings.
Despite the pain, NoiseCat believes “Sugarcane” has had a healing impact, empowering survivors and communities to share their stories. However, as conversations continue, governments remain reluctant to pursue accountability.
The Oscar nomination for “Sugarcane” signals a breakthrough for Indigenous representation in film, which has historically marginalized Native voices. NoiseCat hopes this recognition inspires more Indigenous stories and storytellers to emerge.
As the Oscars approach, NoiseCat promises a memorable acceptance speech if they win, ensuring “Sugarcane” leaves its mark both on stage and in history.
Source: Swifteradio.com
