Original subtitles

They're out there somewhere

wondering why I don't come get them.

You're not going to find them.

You're never finding them.

This is.

You need to get it together, take him back home.

There's nothing for me there. There's nothing left.

Are you lost?

I am, yes.

Where you're trying to go?

Don't actually know.

So what are you doing here then?

I think I might be from here.

I had siblings. We were adopted.

My name is Bezhig.

Bezhig?

Ah, okay, I'll turn around.

Follow me until you see the house with the school bus.

It's just past there.

Okay.

Hi. Hi.

Nice car.

Thanks.

Are your mom and dad here?

Yeah.

She's the best.

Oh, I don't think you should be doing that.

Can I help you?

You lost?

I'm not really sure.

I think I have family here.

Oh well, where you from?

Montreal.

I was told to come down this road.

My name's Bezhig.

You're...

I... I'm... I'm Leo.

I'm your, uh... I'm your...

I'm your brother.

Really?

Oh, my...

You're all grown up.

Yeah.

Um, sorry, do you want to come inside?

Yeah, let's go.

Let's go inside.

Should, should I be worried about that?

No, no. They're fine.

Hey, don't drive off now.

You want a coffee or something to drink or...

Sure.

Me first!

No shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes.

Thank you. Thank you.

Did you have fun?

Hello. Let's play.

Hello little girl.

Look at my doll.

Wow, she's beautiful.

What's her name?

Nikki, same as me.

What's your name?

My name is Bezhig.

That means "one".

This is your auntie.

That's our auntie. Auntie look.

Show your muscles. Show your muscles!

Mommy's home.

Wow.

Who's this?

This is...

Mommy, that's our auntie.

we have a new auntie.

This is Bezhig.

What?

Hi.

Oh, my God.

Do you assume Bezhig now?

I'm still figuring out if this is really happening.

Oh, my gosh.

Welcome home, Bezhig.

Kids help me.

Come help.

Would you like to go outside?

How long have you been here?

Me?

All my life.

I... I grew up here.

You weren't adopted?

No.

My grandfather, he, he raised me.

Why?

Why? Why what?

What happened to our parents?

And the shelter went down here.

It... it fucked everything up.

This was given to my parents when I was adopted.

"Neglect".

This is not true.

This is this is lies. This is...

No, it's from Child Protective Services.

This is lies.

This is what you fucking think?

Look, I... I...

We didn't live in fucking poverty.

You weren't neglected.

All right, they just took you.

That's what they do, all right?

They... they... they... They're fucking liars.

Go, go read it.

Hey.

Can you tell me the truth of what happened?

Your mom and dad loved you.

And your dad?

He died.

And your mom tried to get you back.

And when she couldn't,

she went into Regina over and over again.

And walked around the city looking for you.

Then she fucked off and no one saw her since.

Your mom loved you.

But you lived on the rez.

Everybody was poor.

We weren't poor. We had everything we needed.

I... I was ten.

I remember I was there.

What do you remember?

Not much. The orphanage.

That wasn't an orphanage.

No. It was an intake centre

where they kept kids after they took 'em.

You want to meet some more family?

Hey, baby.

This is your.

Your grandfather, and this is your Auntie Bridget.

Look at you. Look at you.

Oh, my god.

It's so good to see, my girl.

Thought we were gonna cook you

a real traditional feast, huh?

Hey.

It's the chicken man.

Yeah.

Eat up.

Oh my God, this is so good.

Ah.

This makes me so happy.

Yeah, me too.

Are you engaged?

Shit. Doctors say shitty poop.

Holy smokes. Wow!

Is that a fake ring?

I'm still waiting for my ring. It's only been 10 years.

I hear you.

Good luck.

Auntie, can I come to your wedding?

Yeah. Of course, you can.

Me too?

What's he like? David?

I've known him for a very long time.

He goes to my synagogue. I love him very much.

So your family in Montreal,

they're pretty good to you?

Yeah, they were. They were very loving.

You know, my shoe guy is Jewish.

Which shoe guy?

You know the guy in Albert, he fixes my soles.

Um, Harold.

Yeah! Beristain Bernstein.

He's a good man, I think.

He can fix that sole,

but he can't fix that stink, whatever it is.

That is your breath. That is not my boot.

Can you open all windows?

Fine.

Aboriginal Radio Network.

You are listening to Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation

at 91.3 FM in Regina, Saskatchewan.

We're here.

Look, there's Patty and Morris.

It's your mom and dad on their wedding day.

It's just so beautiful.

You can have it.

That's my mom?

Do you know where she is?

Told you already, she fucked off.

Some people just don't want to be found, Bezhig.

Look.

Is that me?

Yes.

Leo, is this you?

No, that's Niche.

You two were always together.

Even though you're just right bossy.

That's true. You're never far apart.

You were even born holding onto one another.

We're twins.

Yeah.

Your, uh, your head came out first,

so they called you Bezhig.

Niche means "number two".

There were, what, 27 kids taken from here?

Thousands from this region.

I would go to those meetings in the Fort.

So many women speaking up,

and some of them were even lawyers.

Me, I do it for Patty.

Losing her kids broke her.

They're still doing it. They're still taking kids.

So I keep my head down, you know, stay quiet.

Don't want them snooping around here.

I heard people are calling band offices,

trying to find their families.

People are starting to come home.

I hoped you would.

Prayed for you. Went to ceremony.

We all did, my girl.

Glad you're home.

Good morning.

Oh, my God. I can't believe I fell asleep.

I'm so sorry. Anytime.

Hey, you can use my face stuff.

It's on the second shelf.

Thank you.

I can't believe it's only been two days.

It feels like...

Like home?

Yeah.

That's because it is.

I didn't want to tell you

because it didn't go well,

but I found our sister Dora a few days ago.

Wow.

Just... give it some time then.

Sweet grass.

It's, uh, it's for protection.

You burn it.

It sends your prayers to the Creator.

Thank you for everything.

The pre-board are announced

for flight 322 to Montreal.

Please have your boarding passes ready.

Mom?

Mom?

Mom?

Are you planning on staying for dinner?

Yes.

Mom.

I'm sorry I left like that.

Now you're back.

I have that meeting with David and the rabbi tomorrow.

Good reason to come home.

Come in.

Look really smart.

How was Regina?

There's a lot.

What do you mean a lot?

Come here.

Right away.

What do you mean a lot?

Wait a second.

What?

I don't know what's going on.

What's happening?

Nothing.

And when I came back, my mom's pissed at me.

Nothing's happened?

You're leaving just a little bit out,

don't you think?

I'm just trying to figure out what you're thinking.

What's your plan?

I don't have a plan.

Just got back.

Oh, so the rabbi should be arriving any minute.

Wow, why is everyone making such a fuss?

Okay.

Oh.

I just polished these today.

So.

I understand that you weren't very happy with me

because of things that you overheard

when I was having a private conversation.

It was an unfortunate situation.

I am sorry if you felt upset.

But we both love David,

and I am sure that we want to put this behind us.

Yes. Of course.

Thank you.

Good, good, good.

Are you hungry? There's so much food.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Here are some questions I like engaged couples to consider.

Can you be truthful with the other?

Do you feel seen for who you really are

by the other?

What happens when you fight?

Are you able to find your way out of the fight with the other?

How will you balance the differences?

On a more practical note...

...on how you want to live your lives.

Do you plan to keep a kosher home?

Do you do you plan to have children?

Hmm?

We talked about two.

Two seems good. Esther?

Yeah, we did.

I think you both will have considered

that Esther will face challenges in this community as a convert,

even though you converted very young, Esther.

Marriage isn't easy, even in normal circumstances.

Do you both feel prepared to meet those challenges?

How was your meeting with the rabbi?

It was good. I think it was good.

Good, good. Esther?

Yeah, it was good.

Tammy and Jason, how was the last ultrasound?

There is a baby in there.

Let me ask you this.

Have you applied for med school yet for that baby?

Law school.

Stop it. Don't even listen.

So, Esther, you're going to be articling soon.

Hmm-mmm.

You'll probably have all the top law firms coming after you,

and they're doing affirmative action stuff these days.

She's top of her class.

Of course you'll have the best offers.

We all know she's very bright.

- That she is. - That's what I'm saying.

But we have two African-Canadian hires at our firm,

so I guess we'll see how they do.

Jesus, Jason, they'll do fine.

It's amazing though, isn't it?

Whatever happened to, you know, merit, earning your way in?

Well, you're still at your father's firm, right, Jason?

What is that supposed to mean?

She means shut up. I'm just saying.

Excuse me a minute.

Soup's good.

Good. There's lots more of it.

I hope I didn't offend her.

She's seems very outspoken.

Passion. I call it passion.

Here, Tammy, have some more salad.

Here you go, sweetheart.

So, Esther, will you be going into Aboriginal law?

I'm still deciding, but corporate law most likely.

Ohhh, like your father.

You could do so much for the aboriginals

with your good Jewish upbringing

and a lodge mom.

Mom, we agreed.

No, I'm saying that she's one of the good ones.

And when I say that you're one of the good ones, I mean it.

You are very bright

and your people would be lucky to have you.

Jesus, Mom, take a day off.

That's a compliment.

Okay, everybody, your mother made a nice dinner,

and she has apologized to Esther.

I'm going to put that on the table right now.

Apology has been made.

I don't understand.

I don't know what more she wants.

I haven't even brought up the fact that

she walked out of her own engagement party.

I didn't feel welcome.

You were rude to her.

Okay, now you're being very hard on your mother.

Wait, you think I was being rude?

I was having a personal conversation

where I was airing my private doubts

and she was listening in on them.

You said you weren't gonna do this.

Do you know how much we spend on that party?

I'm the only one who has apologized.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

She's like that.

I'm sorry.

There's a reason your mom tries so hard

to let me know that I don't fit in.

That's that.

Hey, of course you fit in.

It's because I don't.

Of course, you fit in.

Hey.

Hey.

I love you.

Hey.

I'm just wondering if that's going to be enough.

It's enough.

But I don't think you know

how awful that was for me in there.

I'm sorry.

And I have a brother.

And a grandfather.

And nieces and nephews and cousins

and they all look like me.

And I've never had that before.

I didn't want to come home.

I feel like if I try to explain that to you,

you're not gonna understand.

You don't think I'll understand?

Ester, I've known you since you were seven. Hey.

David, I can't.

You can't what?

You can't what?

I mean, Jesus Christ, I can come and meet your family.

I can...

come with you to Regina.

I can see what you're talking about.

I can...

I can do all the things.

I'm sorry.

I want to.

How's David?

Do you remember on my 16th birthday?

I went into your office just before my party

and you had all that stuff lying out on your desk.

Photographs

of me.

In one of them, I was five-years old,

and I was in an ad in the newspaper.

And in the ad, it said that my name was Bezhig.

And I realized then that you changed my name.

Of course we changed your name.

They told us to change the name to a Jewish name.

And then after the party,

I asked you who my real family was.

I knew I wasn't allowed to talk about it.

I knew you'd be angry.

You were so angry, you said,

"Do you think a child ends up in a newspaper

because her family loves her?"

And I didn't ask about it again.

That's how it's been between us.

For years.

I don't ask questions.

I don't talk about how much I want to find them.

That's my mother and that's my father.

You were wrong.

They wanted me.

No, that's not...

It's what I found out.

You were not taken care of.

This is what they told us, "Save these children.

They need good homes. It's a mitzvah."

You're not listening to me.

That's my father and that's my mother.

And they loved me.

No.

I was removed because the government

was taking Indian kids.

We had paper saying "unfit mother".

You don't think governments have lied before?

No, this is not true.

It is true.

You can't just stick a new name on a person

and pretend that nothing's happened.

And you can't take a 5-year-old child

away from their family

and think that they're just gonna forget.

You should know.

Have you forgotten?

Your family. That you lost.

Have you forgotten your sister?

I don't think so, because you named me after her.

It was the right thing to do.

You're not listening to me.

Listen to me.

No.

You picked me out of an ad.

Because that is how it was done!

You let them take me away from my brothers and my sister.

It was the right thing to do.

It was wrong!

It was criminal, Mom. You're a criminal.

Ester.

Esther, don't leave.