We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice

We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice
Directed byAlanis Obomsawin
Produced byAlanis Obomsawin
StarringCindy Blackstock
Production
company
Release date
  • 13 September 2016 (2016-09-13) (TIFF)
Running time
163 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice is a 2016 Canadian documentary film by Alanis Obomsawin about the First Nations activist Cindy Blackstock and her court case against the federal government of Canada for underfunding social services to children living on First Nations reserves.[1]

The film details how the federal government has resisted applying Jordan's Principle to restitution efforts. Also appearing in the film is Assembly of First Nations lawyer David Nahwegahbow, who describes the government's efforts to avoid living up to its agreements with Indigenous peoples.[2] To make the film, Obomsawin followed the case for six years, recording testimony from all sides.[3]

We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice is the 49th film that Obomsawin has directed for the National Film Board of Canada—with her 50th, Norway House, in production.[3][4]

  1. ^ "Alanis Obomsawin documents Cindy Blackstock's fight for equality for Aboriginal children". Day 6, September 2, 2016.
  2. ^ Taylor, Kate (21 October 2016). "We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice exposes Canada's barriers to reconciliation". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b Brownstein, Bill (10 November 2016). "There's no stopping legendary documentarian Alanis Obomsawin". Montreal Gazette. Postmedia. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  4. ^ Berger, Laura (2016-09-15). "TIFF 2016 Women Directors: Meet Alanis Obomsawin — "We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice"". Retrieved 2016-09-18.