3400-1, 29 minutes, 2001

The year is 1898. There were 54 residential schools nationwide. Churches were given complete control over native education on reserves across Canada. Move ahead to 1920 when the Indian Act made it mandatory for all aboriginal children to attend these schools. Day schools were considered ineffective since the children could still have contact with their families. Travel back to Cranbrook, B.C., with the Baptiste family as they revisit the school that was their living nightmare…that changed their lives forever. This is a moving tribute to the courage of all the families who survived the trauma of Canada’s hidden shame.