♪ [Birds chirping] [Splashing] [Wind blowing] Patti's father: You can't just keep taking off, Patti.

Patti: They're out there somewhere, wondering why I don't come get them.

Patti's father: You're not going to find them.

I mean, nobody's finding them.

Patti: No one should be treated like this.

Patti's father: You need to get it together.

Take him back home.

Patti: There's nothing for me there.

There's nothing left.

[Footsteps] [Door opens, slams shut] [Stick whacking] [Wind blowing] [Tapping] [Door squeaks] ♪ [Sound of children playing] ♪ [Person humming] ♪ [Rustling] [Match rasps] ♪ [Match rasps] ♪ [Flames crackling] [Thunder] [Man speaking Indigenous language] ["Hey, Little Bird" by Buffy Sainte-Marie playing] ♪ Hey, little bird, I remember you ♪ ♪ You with your dreams up higher than you could fly ♪ ♪ Hey, I remember you ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, little bird ♪ ♪ Lost in the summer sun ♪ ♪ Those were the days when your feathers were new ♪ ♪ And I remember you ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Now it's all coming back ♪ ♪ The whole world is your habitat ♪ ♪ But more than that ♪ ♪ If we meet again, will you know me?

♪ ♪ So, little bird ♪ ♪ Flash your colors and I will sing ♪ ♪ Glide into time with the moon on your wing ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Like a gull of the sea ♪ ♪ Your resting place ♪ ♪ Could be heaven or countless oceans ♪ ♪ Far from me ♪ [Indistinct voices on recording] [Song playing on radio] ♪ ♪ And the light from the sky ♪ ♪ They fade from memory... ♪ ♪ ♪ She got no place to hide... ♪ [Music stops] [Birds chirping] [Vehicle approaching] Are you lost?

I am, yes.

Where are you 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!

OK, I'll turn around.

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

It's just past there.

[Singing in Indigenous language] ♪ Remember me?

♪ ♪ Remember me?

♪ ♪ When the sun comes up in the morning sky ♪ ♪ Remember me?

♪ ♪ Remember me?

♪ ♪ Soaring with the eagles so high ♪ ♪ Feeling free ♪ ♪ Remember me?

♪ ♪ Down low, hand in hand ♪ ♪ You and me ♪ [Singing continues in Indigenous language] [Music stops] -Hi.

-Hi.

Kid: Nice car.

Bezhig: Thanks.

Are your mom and dad here?

Kids: Yeah.

She's the best.

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

[Kid laughs, honking continues] [Children giggle] Man: Hey, can I help you?

[Children speaking indistinctly] 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.

[Chimes clanking] You're...

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

I'm your, uh...

I'm your...

I'm your brother.

Leo.

Oh, my G... [Chokes up] [Whispers] Yeah.

You're all grown up.

Heh!

Yeah.

Yeah.

Um, sorry.

Do you want to come inside?

Yeah, let's go.

Yeah.

Let's go inside.

Right.

[Horn honks] Should--should I be worried about them?

No, no.

They're fine.

Hey, don't drive off now.

[Door shuts] ♪ You want a coffee or something to drink or...yeah?

Sure.

♪ [Liquid pouring] ♪ Girl: Me first!

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

Thank you.

Thank you.

You guys have fun?

[Leo laughs softly] That's my boy.

Hello, little girl.

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.

[Nikki laughs] That means "one."

[Bezhig laughs] This is your auntie.

That's our auntie?

Auntie, look.

[Laughter] 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.

Yeah.

This is Bezhig.

What?

Hi.

Oh, my God.

♪ Do Asin and Brigit know?

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

I-- Oh, my gosh.

Welcome home, Bezhig.

Kids... [Speaking Indigenous language] Come help.

[Children giggle] Uh, hey, do you want to go outside?

♪ How long have you been here?

Me?

My whole life.

I--yeah.

I grew up here.

You weren't adopted?

No.

Asin, our grandfather, he--he raised me.

Why?

Why?

Why what?

What happened to our parents?

Everyone's gone except me.

[Sniffles] And the shit that went down here, it--it fucked everything up.

[Inhales and exhales] 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.

All right?

That's what they do, all right?

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

Go--go read it.

Hey.

[Sniffles] Can you tell me the truth of what happened?

Your mom and dad loved you.

And your dad... well, he died.

[Crying] 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.

Leo: Then she fucked off, and no one's 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.

Leo: It wasn't an orphanage.

No.

It was an intake center, where they kept kids after they took 'em.

You want to meet some more family?

[Sobbing softly] Woman: Hey, baby.

Leo: This is your mishoom, your grandfather, and this is your Auntie Brigit.

[Quivering breaths] Look at you.

Look at you.

Oh, my God.

It's so good to see you, my girl.

[Leo vocalizing, kids laughing] Whoa.

Whoa.

Whoa.

Whoa.

Whoa.

Asin: Thought we were gonna cook you a real traditional feast, huh?

Mother: Hey.

Come on.

Settle down.

Child: Come on.

It's the chicken man.

Yeah.

Eat up.

[Clears throat] [Indistinct conversations] Oh, my God.

This is so good.

Child: Yeah.

Bezhig: Mm-hmm!

[Mother laughs] This makes me so happy.

Yeah, me, too.

Are you engaged?

Leo: Shit.

No.

Don't say "shit."

Say poop.

Holy smokes.

Mother: Wow!

Boy: Is that a fake ring?

Mother: I'm still waiting for my ring.

It's only been 10 years.

Brigit: I hear you.

Good luck.

Just kidding.

I'm just kidding.

Nikki: Auntie, can I come to your wedding?

Yeah.

Of course you can.

Leo: Me, too?

Yeah.

Mother: 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.

Asin: You know, my shoe guy is Jewish.

Brigit: Which shoe guy?

Asin: You know.

The guy in Albert.

He fixes my soles.

Um, Harold.

Yeah!

Beristain--Berenstein.

He's a good man, I think.

He can fix those soles, but he can't fix that stink... Asin: That is your breath.

That is not my boot.

Brigit: Boys, boys, respect your elders... [Overlapping conversations] Leo: Can you open the windows...

Boy: The shoe that finally died.

[Continues, indistinct] [Rapidly switching stations on car radio] Announcer: ...Aboriginal Radio Network.

You are listening to Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation at 90.3 FM in Regina, Saskatchewan.

♪ [Music playing, muffled] ♪ [Woman speaking indistinctly] ♪ Look, there's Patti and Morris.

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

It's just so beautiful.

You can have it.

That's my mom?

Mm-hmm.

Do you know where she is?

Leo: Told you already.

She fucked off.

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

Ohh.

Look.

Wait.

Is that me?

Brigit: Yes.

[Chuckles] Leo, is this you?

No, that's Niizh.

Brigit: You two were always together.

Even though you were just right bossy.

Asin: That's true.

You were never far apart.

You were even born holding onto one another.

We're twins?

Leo: Yeah.

Asin: Your, uh, your head came out first, so they called you Bezhig.

Niizh means "number two."

[Sighs] There were, what, 27 kids taken from here?

Leo: Thousands from this region.

Brigit: 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 Patti.

Losing her kids broke her.

Leo: 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.

Mother: I heard people are calling band offices, trying to find their families.

People are starting to come home.

Leo: I hoped you would.

Mother: Yeah.

Prayed for you.

Went to ceremony.

Brigit: We all did, my girl.

Glad you're home.

♪ [Sound of children playing] ♪ [Woman whispering indistinctly] [Sound of child laughing] [Nikki laughs] 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.

[Dog barking] I didn't want to tell you because it didn't go well, but I found our sister Dora a few days ago.

Wow.

Well, just--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, Leo, for everything.

Man on P.A.

: The pre-board are announced for flight 322 to Montreal.

Please have your boarding passes ready.

[Laughter, indistinct chatter] [Indistinct announcements on P.A.]

♪ [Singing in Indigenous language] ♪ Mom?

♪ Mom?

♪ Mom?

♪ Golda: Are you planning on staying for dinner?

Yes.

Mom.

I'm sorry I left like that.

And now you're back.

I have that meeting with David and the rabbi tomorrow.

Good reason to come home.

[Tap tap tap tap] [Knock on door] Come in.

-Hi.

-Hey.

Well, I'm happy to see you.

Is this what you want?

[Panting and moaning] Voice of woman: You'll look really smart, Niizh.

[Panting and moaning] Voice of woman: Smile.

[Child screams] OK?

Yeah... How was Regina?

It was a lot.

What do you mean, a lot?

Can we, uh...?

Right away?

Mm-hmm.

What do you mean, a lot?

Wait a second.

What?

I don't know what's going on.

What's happening?

Nothing's happening.

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

Nothing's happened?

You're being like this.

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.

I just got back.

Leah: OK, so the rabbi should be arriving any minute.

Flowers and a beautiful vase.

OK. 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.

[Taps counter] Are you hungry?

There's so much food.

Oh, Jesus...

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... [Sound of children playing] ...on how you want to live your lives.

Rabbi: 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.

Rabbi: 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?

[People singing in Hebrew] ♪ [Soft laughter] Marvin: How was your meeting with the rabbi?

David: It was good.

I think it was good.

Good, good.

Esther?

Yeah, it was good.

Leah: Tammy and Jason, how was the last ultrasound?

Tammy: There is a baby in there.

Marvin: Let me ask you this.

Have you applied for med school yet for that baby?

Law school.

Leah: Stop it.

Don't even listen.

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

Mm-hmm.

Jason: You'll probably have all the top law firms coming after you.

They're doing affirmative action stuff these days.

David: She's top of her class.

Of course she'll have the best offers.

Jason: Of course.

Leah: We all know she's very bright... David: She is.

Leah: That's what she is.

That's what I'm saying.

Jason: But we have two new African-Canadian hires at our firm, so I guess we'll see how they do.

Tammy: Jesus, Jason.

They'll do fine.

Jason: What?

It's amazing, though, isn't it?

What ever happened to, you know, merit, and earning your way in?

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

What is that supposed to mean?

Tammy: She means shut up.

Jason: What?

All I'm saying-- Bezhig: Excuse me a minute.

Marvin: Soup's good.

Leah: Good.

There's lots more of it, so eat up.

Jason: I hope I didn't offend her.

Leah: Oh, don't worry.

I offend her all the time now.

David never mentioned she was outspoken.

David: Passion.

I call it passion.

[Inhaling and exhaling deeply] 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.

Ohh, like your father.

You could do so much for the aboriginals with your good Jewish upbringing and a law degree.

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.

Tammy: Jesus, Mom.

Take a day off.

Leah: That's a compliment.

Jason: I don't see what's wrong... Marvin: OK, 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 walked out because I didn't feel welcome.

David: Because you were rude to her.

Marvin: OK, 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.

David: Mom, you said you weren't gonna do this.

Do you know how much we spent on that party?

And out of the two of us, I'm the only one who has apologized.

[Taps table, thunder rumbling] I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

She's like that.

I'm sorry.

There's a reason why your mom tries so hard to let me know that I don't fit in.

Esther... hey, of course you fit in.

[Sobbing] It's because I don't.

Of course you fit in.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

I love you.

Hey.

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

[Sighs] It's enough.

But I don't think you know how awful that was for me in there.

I'm sorry.

[Sniffles] 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.

And I feel like if I try to explain that to you, you're not gonna understand.

You don't think I'll understand?

Esther, I've known you since you were seven.

Hey.

[Sobbing] 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...

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'm sorry.

But I love you.

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 a 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.

Mom, 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--no.

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," "absentee father."

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.

Esther.

Esther, don't leave.

♪ Man: ♪ I've seen the lines upon your hands ♪ ♪ And the fountains from where ♪ ♪ You draw your youth ♪ ♪ I was a young man ♪ ♪ Searching for something to believe ♪ ♪ ♪ Then you took me in your arms ♪ ♪ It didn't matter if I did not have a home ♪ ♪ I was just trying to find ♪ ♪ Shelter from the cold ♪ ♪ Then you looked at me and said ♪ ♪ "My boy, you've seen far, far too much hate" ♪ ♪ And the winter snow ♪ ♪ That's blowing outside your door ♪ ♪ Is only a dream ♪ ♪ Now your slumber's at an end ♪ ♪ Its spring breeze will now blow across... ♪ ♪