# We Were Children

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2012 Canadian film

We Were Children Directed by Tim Wolochatiuk Written by Jason Sherman Produced by Kyle Irving David Christensen Cinematography Jeremy Benning Kim Bell Edited by John Whitcher Music by Shawn Pierce Production companies Eagle Vision eOne Television National Film Board of Canada Release dates October 2, 2012 (2012-10-02) (Vancouver International Film Festival) March 18, 2017 (2017-03-18) (streaming) Running time 82 m 50 s[1] Country Canada Language English

***We Were Children*** is a 2012 Canadian [documentary film](/source/Documentary_film) about the experiences of [First Nations](/source/First_Nations_in_Canada) children in the [Canadian Indian residential school system](/source/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system).[2][3][4] Directed by Tim Wolochatiuk and written by [Jason Sherman](/source/Jason_Sherman), the film recounts the experiences of two residential school survivors: Lyna Hart, who attended the Guy Hill Residential School in [Manitoba](/source/Manitoba), and Glen Anaquod, who attended the Lebret Indian Residential School in [Saskatchewan](/source/Saskatchewan). *We Were Children* presents their experiences through a combination of personal interviews and dramatic recreations.[2][3][4]

Hart considered her involvement in *We Were Children* a vital step in her healing process, marking the first time she had fully shared her experiences.[2] Anaquod died on May 31, 2011, before the film's completion; his family was given a [private screening](/source/Private_screening).[3] Hart died on January 3, 2015.[5]

## Production

[Eagle Vision](/source/Eagle_Vision_(company))'s executive producer Lisa Meeches—whose parents and older siblings were sent to residential schools, and who spent over 7 years travelling across Canada to collect residential school survivors' stories for the [Government of Canada](/source/Government_of_Canada)—has stated that the idea for the film originated from a discussion she had had at the [Banff World Media Festival](/source/Banff_World_Media_Festival).[6] It was Meeches who approached director Tim Wolochatiuk with the project.[7]

The film was shot in [Manitoba](/source/Manitoba), namely in [Winnipeg](/source/Winnipeg), [St-Pierre-Jolys](/source/St-Pierre-Jolys), and at the former Portage residential school (now the Rufus Prince building) in [Portage la Prairie](/source/Portage_la_Prairie). It was produced by Kyle Irving for Eagle Vision, Loren Mawhinney for [eOne Television](/source/EOne), and produced and executive produced by [David Christensen](/source/David_Christensen) for the [National Film Board of Canada](/source/National_Film_Board_of_Canada).[2][3][8]

[CBC Manitoba](/source/CBC_Manitoba) reporter Sheila North Wilson assisted the production by translating material in the script from English to [Cree](/source/Cree_language).[9]

## Cast

The film's [cast](/source/Cast_member) includes both acting performances and interviewees, as *We Were Children* combines interviews of its two subjects with [dramatic recreations](/source/Historical_reenactment) of their experiences. Among the cast were:[10]

- Lyna Hart — self - Alicia Hamelin — Lyna, 4 years old - Jade Hamelin — Lyna, 10 years old - Jennie Morin — Lyna, 18 yrs old

- Glen Anaquod — self - René Batson — Glen, 6–7 years old - Brun Montour (as Bruin Montour) — Glen, 12 yrs old (as Bruin Montour) - Justin Ducharme — Glen, 18 years old - Justin Courchene — Glen, Adult

- [Darcy Fehr](/source/Darcy_Fehr) — Glen's Teacher Priest

- Darren Felbel — Priest, Saskatchewan

- Rebecca Gibson — Sister Mary

- Lois Brothers — Glen's Teacher

- Fawnda Neckoway - Lyna's Mother

- Glenn Cochrane — Lyna's Grandfather

- Kayla Contois-Moar — Virginia

## Release

*We Were Children* premiered on 2 October 2012 at the [Vancouver International Film Festival](/source/Vancouver_International_Film_Festival),[2] followed by a screening at the [imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival](/source/ImagineNATIVE_Film_%2B_Media_Arts_Festival) in Toronto on October 18. It was broadcast on the [Aboriginal Peoples Television Network](/source/Aboriginal_Peoples_Television_Network) in March 2013,[6] followed by a DVD release from the [National Film Board of Canada](/source/National_Film_Board_of_Canada) on 12 April 2013.[3]

## See also

- *[Sleeping Children Awake](/source/Sleeping_Children_Awake)*, a 1992 documentary about residential schools

- *[Where the Spirit Lives](/source/Where_the_Spirit_Lives)*, a 1989 drama about residential schools

- *[Our Spirits Don't Speak English](/source/Our_Spirits_Don't_Speak_English)*, a 2008 documentary film about [Native American boarding schools](/source/Native_American_boarding_schools) in the United States

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nfbcoll_1-0)** ["We Were Children"](http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/film/?id=58462). *Collection page*. National Film Board of Canada. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cole_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cole_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cole_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Cole_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Cole_2-4) Cole, Yolande (2 October 2012). ["VIFF 2012: We Were Children depicts residential school stories"](https://www.straight.com/article-799361/vancouver/viff-2012-we-were-children-depicts-residential-school-stories). *[Georgia Straight](/source/Georgia_Straight)*. Vancouver Free Press. Retrieved 16 November 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sison_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sison_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sison_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Sison_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Sison_3-4) Sison, Marites N. (26 September 2012). ["Film tells stories of residential school survivors"](http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/other/news-items/p/2/c/sliders/article/film-tells-stories-of-residential-school-survivors-11191//abp/141.html). *[Anglican Journal](/source/Anglican_Journal)*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0847-978X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0847-978X). Retrieved 16 November 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) ["VIFF review: We Were Children"](http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/09/28/viff-review-we-were-children/). *[Vancouver Province](/source/Vancouver_Province)*. Postmedia Network Inc. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Jan 2015: Lyna Hart, prominent member of Winnipeg's indigenous community, passes away"](http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Lyna-Hart-prominent-member-of-Winnipegs-indigenous-community-passes-away-287840811.html). *Winnipeg Free Press*. 7 January 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cbc_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cbc_6-1) ["We Were Children 'a healing journey' for residential school survivors"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/we-were-children-a-healing-journey-for-residential-school-survivors-1.1216765). *[CBC News](/source/CBC_News)*. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Global_BC_7-0)** [*Interview with the filmmakers of 'We Were Children'*](http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/interview+with+the+filmmakers+of+we+were+children/video.html?v=2286032691#guests) (Video interview). Vancouver: [Global BC](/source/Global_BC) Morning News. 2 October 2012.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Maxwell_8-0)** Maxwell, Jordan (26 August 2011). ["Documentary on residential schools shoots in Portage"](http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/2011/08/25/documentary-on-residential-schools-shoots-in-portage). *Portage Daily Graphic*. Retrieved 17 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-North_Wilson_9-0)** North Wilson, Sheila (2 February 2012). ["Behind the scenes of made in Manitoba docudrama "We Were Children""](http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/scene/other/2012/02/02/cbc-reporter-on-the-pain-brought-by-translating-for-residential-schools-documentary/). *CBC Manitoba Scene*. [CBC News](/source/CBC_News). Retrieved 21 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [*We Were Children*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1934472/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) [*We Were Children*](http://www.nfb.ca/film/we_were_children) at the [National Film Board of Canada](/source/National_Film_Board_of_Canada)

## External links

- [*We Were Children*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1934472/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Blog post by Lisa Meeches](http://blog.nfb.ca/blog/2012/10/02/we-were-children/) and [trailer](http://www.nfb.ca/film/we_were_children) at the [National Film Board of Canada](/source/National_Film_Board_of_Canada)

- [Global BC](/source/Global_BC) Morning News, Shaw Media Inc.

v t e Residential schools in Canada Residential school Genocide Denialism Indian agent Pass system Nutrition experiments International Grenfell Association Presbyterian Church in Canada Racial separate schools in Canada Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sixties Scoop United Church of Canada Documents Gradual Civilization Act Gradual Enfranchisement Act Indian Act 1969 White Paper People Charles Bagot James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin Nicholas Flood Davin Edgar Dewdney Vital-Justin Grandin John A. Macdonald Peregrine Maitland Rawson W. Rawson Hayter Reed Egerton Ryerson Arthur Wellesley Vowell John West Survivors Phil Fontaine Phyllis Webstad Chanie Wenjack Schools Alberta Assumption (Hays Lakes) British Columbia Ahousaht Kamloops Kootenay Lejac St. Augustine's St. Paul's St. Mary's St. Michael's (Alert Bay) St. Joseph's Manitoba Assiniboia Birtle Brandon Norway House Portage la Prairie St. Boniface Nova Scotia Shubenacadie Ontario Bishop Horden Cecilia Jeffrey McIntosh Mohawk Institute Mount Elgin Pelican Lake Shingwauk Spanish St. Anne's St. John's Saskatchewan Battleford Beauval Gordon's Marieval Muscowequan Prince Albert Qu'Appelle Responses Peter Bryce Canadian history wars Who Killed Canadian History? Gravesites discovery 2021 Canadian church burnings Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement Fontaine et al. v Canada Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Indians of Canada Pavilion National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Orange Shirt Day Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Visit by Pope Francis to Canada Legislation United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Canada) Media portrayals Books Fatty Legs Five Little Indians Grave Error: How The Media Misled Us (and the Truth about Residential Schools) Indian Horse Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada Kiss of the Fur Queen Not My Girl Secret Path A Stranger at Home Sugar Falls These Are My Words Wenjack When We Were Alone Film Bones of Crows Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair Indian Horse Returning Home Rhymes for Young Ghouls Savage Secret Path Sleeping Children Awake Snip Sugarcane WaaPaKe We Were Children Where the Spirit Lives Music Secret Path Stage Zahgidiwin/love Television Bones of Crows "Great and Sudden Change" Organizations Aboriginal Healing Foundation Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [We Were Children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Were_Children) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Were_Children?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.