Stseptékwles re Sk’elép – Coyote Stories – Indigenous Film Festival

An important contribution to the process of Truth & Reconciliation, Sugarcane digs into the legacy of abuse from the Residential School, at St. Joseph’s Mission in Williams Lake, BC.

With sensitivity and compassion, the film introduces us to those doing the hard labour of researching the past, to traumatized survivors who attended the school as children, and to the children of these children, carrying emotional scars they have inherited but cannot fully comprehend. This should be mandatory viewing.

Post-film discussion with Charlene Belleau, moderated by Ryan Deneault (Healing Between Worlds).

Winner: Best Direction, Documentary, Sundance Film Festival

Event schedule

•  5:45 p.m. – Doors open
•  6:15 p.m. – Opening remarks, As the smoke rises (short film), Sugarcane, Post-film discussion

As the smoke rises

This is a twelve-minute film and is directed by Sharon Heigl.

A Native Elder explains the energy and tremendous healing power of smudging sage handed down by the ancients thousands of years ago.

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Charlene Belleau

Charlene has been a strong advocate for former Indian Residential School survivors for over thirty-five years.

The late 1980’s saw many former St. Joseph’s Mission (SJM) Indian Residential School (IRS) warriors step forward and hold priests accountable for the sexual abuse of children. Due to the trauma associated with the high-profile criminal trials, Charlene, with the support of BC Leadership established the Provincial Indian Residential School Project now known as the BC IRSSS. Charlene coordinated the engagement of former SJM IRS students in key inquiries on IRS, including the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1996 and a community-based IRS inquiry on the impacts of SJM in Esk’etemc in 1997. Additionally, Charlene facilitated the Law Commission of Canada’s work on IRS in 1997. Charlene served at the local, provincial, and national levels on IRS. While with the Assembly of First Nations, she was part of the team to negotiate the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, of which the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a priority for Charlene.

Charlene served three terms as Kukpi7 (Chief) of Esk’etemc and several years on Council. Dealing with IRS trauma has always been and continues to be the cornerstone of Charlene’s work to create healthier and safer families and nations.

Ryan Deneault

Ryan Deneault’s unique life story is the basis of the business, Healing Between Worlds. Through lived experience, Ryan shares his unique story of being a functioning addict for 30+ years and his attempts to fit into society for nearly five decades to help others find their healing path, teach about Canada’s history through an Indigenous lens and Truth and Reconciliation, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), plus share his journey through addiction to wellness and recovery.