Film

(DESCRIPTION)
Text, This film depicts disturbing events and trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada that may trigger strong negative thoughts or feelings. A listing of support services can be found at the end of the film and on the Unforgotten website.

Screen fades to black.

Created by Build, Films, and Networked Health, with funding and support from Canadian Medical Association

(SPEECH)
["The Unforgotten" by Iskwe ft. Tanya Tagaq]

(DESCRIPTION)
Back of a man's head as he stares at a square of white paint against an exterior red brick wall.

(upbeat, Indigenous music)

(DESCRIPTION)
The young man in a red hoodie and white sneakers trudges across city pavement.

Text, Adulthood.

(SPEECH)
♪ We are the war that's forgotten ♪

(DESCRIPTION)
Winnipeg Canada

(SPEECH)
♪ We stand up tall against the other side ♪ 
I guess it would just be a little outside of this one.

- Like here is fine. - Yeah?

- But it would be like this or like that.

- Okay, so follow that natural line?

- Yeah.

♪ Singing

(DESCRIPTION)
As he stands on electric scaffolding, the young man takes a paintbrush to the brick wall.

(SPEECH)
oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ (upbeat,

(DESCRIPTION)
Sprays black paint against the white brick, the outline of a man's face.

(SPEECH)
Indigenous music)

(DESCRIPTION)
Young man leaves the site with a harness that hangs from his waist.

Later, more of the man's face fills out with a dark mustache, Text, Stephen Gladue, Muralist.

(SPEECH)
- [Speaker #1] His death shouldn't be in vain.

It's part of history.

And I think by having his face out there, it brings attention to like Aboriginal health and wellness and you know, lives, then it's important.

Very important piece.

(DESCRIPTION)
Dark clouds pass over the mural.

(SPEECH)
(intensifying

(DESCRIPTION)
Stephen ascends the electric scaffold near the brick wall, Paint sprays from a can to form more of the man's face, Stephen speaks from a sidewalk across from the red brick wall with his mural, a harness strapped to his body.

(SPEECH)
Indigenous music) Having a face out there, people are gonna know about him.

It's gonna educate them.

It's the only way change is gonna happen, Is if everybody starts recognizing him.

(DESCRIPTION)
Young man takes photo of mural with phone,

(SPEECH)
(sirens)

(DESCRIPTION)
Stephen continues to apply paint to wall, his medium-length dark hair hangs in his eyes.

(SPEECH)
Being in his neighborhood is pretty powerful.

A lot of people come through here, and I'd say 60% of the people that come through here know exactly who this is.

(DESCRIPTION)
Applies white color to the man's scarf.

(SPEECH)
I went searching.

There's not a ton of photographs.

There's this one.

And it's a black and white one, and it's a good one.

Like he's off looking, you know, into who knows?

(DESCRIPTION)
Stephen exits scaffolding.

Black paint pours into tray with grey paint.

(SPEECH)
So I thought, I'll make it look like he's downtown somewhere.

Ambulance colours, colours from police cars.

It's like there's an urgency there.

With those kind of lights.

(sirens)

(DESCRIPTION)
Yellow and red paint colors reflect from man's face.

(SPEECH)
Yeah, so I'm trying to figure out where to place the numbers, where to place hours.

(DESCRIPTION)
Number 34 to the left of the face.

(SPEECH)
People, when they're walking by, they see this number and then it gets them asking what it means.

34 hours right at the top.

And then, you know what, right below it, I'm gonna do 45 years.

(DESCRIPTION)
Shots of urban life, including a three-storied motel, a shop with a sign reads Foods & Housewares, a bridge surrounded by curved caging, A harness hangs from Stephen.

(SPEECH)
(Indigenous music climaxes)

(DESCRIPTION)
He stands in an alleyway in a red hoodie.

Holds cans of spray paint in both hands.

Stands with another man as the two smile and pose for a photo before the mural.

Completed mural of an Indigenous man with a dark mustache, short dark hair, and a checkered scarf, Text on mural reads, 34 hours, 45 years, 2002, 7, 2019, 11.

(SPEECH)
(sirens)

(DESCRIPTION)
Text, Brian Sinclair - an Indigenous man - visited an emergency room in Winnipeg in 2008 for a treatable medical condition.

(SPEECH)
(upbeat, Indigenous music)

(DESCRIPTION)
He died after waiting 34 hours without receiving care, despite concerns raised by fellow patients.

He was 45.

An inquest into Brian Sinclair's death was held in 2014.

His family withdrew from the inquest citing a lack of attention to systemic patterns of racism in the health care system.

(DESCRIPTION)
Text, 2019. The life expectancy of First Nations People living in Manitoba was 11 years less than non-Indigenous Manitobans.

Quote, "This portrait of Brian is so large in hopes that you will not be able to look away," unquote, Oil on stone, 2020, S. Gladue.

Screen fades to black.

An Instagram image, three photos of the mural. Hashtag, Brian Sinclair. Text, Executive Producer, Ewan Affleck, Director, Christopher Paetkau, Co-Directors, Adam Gualtieri, Chloe Ross-Rogerson, Created and written by Ewan Affleck, Christopher Paetkau, Chloe Ross-Rogerson, Adam Gualtieri, Stephen Gladue, Producers, Christopher Paetkau, Chloe Ross-Rogerson

Creative Directors, Stephen Gladue, Jennifer Podemski, Director of Photography, Adam Gualtieri, Music Director, Leela Gilday, Editor, Adam Gualtieri,, Muralist, Stephen Gladue

Production Manager, Chloe Ross-Rogerson, Senior Project Advisor, Alika Lafontaine, Featuring, Stephen Gladue, Knowledge Holders and Subject Matter Experts, Alika Lafontaine, Aluki Kotierk, Marie Wilson, Film Title, The Unforgotten, Courtesy of: Iskwe, -- Artwork by Stephen Gladue. Mural image inspired by photograph courtesy of Maurice Bruneau

Special thanks, Canadian Medical Association Team, Robert Sinclair and family, VilkoZbogar, Steve Loney, Karen Blondin Hall

The film was produced on the traditional territories of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis, all of whom adhere to treaties by which they agreed to share their lands with newcomers in what would become Canada. Winnipeg, Manitoba -- Treaty 1

If this film has triggered strong negative thoughts or feelings, you can find support at: The Hope for Wellness Line (1-855-242-3310), The Residential School Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419), The Crisis Services of Canada (1-833-456-4566). A BUILD, FILMS, and NETWORKED HEALTH Production. Copyright 2021 Canadian Medical Association. Logo, Build.

Content Advisory

The film on this website depicts racism experienced by Indigenous peoples and may trigger strong negative thoughts or feelings.