Discovery at former Kamloops Residential School a teachable moment for filmmaker


The recent discovery of the remains of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School has touched many people across Turtle Island.

And prompted many to want to learn more about what happened at the government-run institutions.

So filmmaker Jacob Bird, 20, of Black River First Nation in north-central Manitoba decided to make a short film about Canada’s Indian residential school system.

“The goal of this project is to educate people,” says Bird. “Not just the Indigenous (peoples) that don’t know their own history. Anyone – newcomers, citizens – it could be anyone.”

Bird’s short film is called The Forgotten Sorrows and can be viewed on YouTube.

He says he may make a second film.

“They need to know what happened,” he says. “Eventually, if we keep trying to bury the truth, it’s just going to be a harder climb to get out.”

 

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