01/09/2026
Sugarcane — Film Screening & Community Conversation
What is Sugarcane?
Sugarcane is a powerful documentary that follows Indigenous families as they investigate the history of the St. Joseph’s Indian Residential School in British Columbia. The film begins with the 2021 discovery of unmarked graves, children who never came home, and unfolds through survivor testimony, archival records, and the personal story of filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat, whose own family was shaped by the school’s violence.
This is not just history. Sugarcane reveals how the trauma of residential and boarding schools continues to shape Indigenous life today. The grief, addiction, su***de, family separation, and loss of language and identity seen across many communities are not accidents, they are the direct consequences of systems that tried to erase Indigenous cultures for more than a century. As many Indigenous leaders say, these schools are still killing people today.
And yet, the film also shows profound resilience: communities reclaiming language, ceremony, family, and identity. Survivors speaking truth. Healing beginning.
Screening Event:
January 20, 2026
6:00–9:00 PM
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Featuring the Magpie Singers, full film screening, and a panel discussion.
Follow‑Up Conversation:
February 1, 2026
10:15 AM
St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral, Guild Room
A space for debriefing, reflection, and continued learning.
Content Note:
This film is rated R and is not appropriate for children.
Community Partners:
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Covenant United Methodist Church
St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral
The Friendship Center
