We Were Children

We Were Children
Directed byTim Wolochatiuk
Written byJason Sherman
Produced by
Cinematography
  • Jeremy Benning
  • Kim Bell
Edited byJohn Whitcher
Music byShawn Pierce
Production
companies
Release dates
Running time
82 m 50 s[1]
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

We Were Children is a 2012 Canadian documentary film about the experiences of First Nations children in the Canadian Indian residential school system.[2][3][4]

Directed by Tim Wolochatiuk and written by Jason Sherman, the film recounts the experiences of two residential school survivors: Lyna Hart, who was sent to the Guy Hill Residential School in Manitoba at age 4; and Glen Anaquod, who was sent to the Lebret Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. We Were Children combines interviews with the two with dramatic recreations of their experiences.[2][3][4]

According to Hart, her participation in the film marked the first time that she had shared the full story of her time in the school. She has stated that she regards her involvement in We Were Children as a key step in her healing process.[2] Anaquod died in 2011 before the film's completion; a private screening of the film was held for his family.[3] Hart died in 2015 after the release of the film.[5]

  1. ^ "We Were Children". Collection page. National Film Board of Canada. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Cole, Yolande (2 October 2012). "VIFF 2012: We Were Children depicts residential school stories". Georgia Straight. Vancouver Free Press. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Sison, Marites N. (26 September 2012). "Film tells stories of residential school survivors". Anglican Journal. ISSN 0847-978X. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  4. ^ a b "VIFF review: We Were Children". Vancouver Province. Postmedia Network Inc. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Jan 2015: Lyna Hart, prominent member of Winnipeg's indigenous community, passes away". Winnipeg Free Press. 7 January 2015.