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.

(DESCRIPTION)
Text, Created by Build, Films, and Networked Health, with funding and support from Canadian Medical Association

Spoken words appear in newspaper text.

(SPEECH)
- [Narrator] I wish to discuss with you the quality of the human stock, from the point of view of one who feels that there is no more urgent task that lies to hand.

(DESCRIPTION)
Men in medical masks

(SPEECH)
["Fire Songs" by

(DESCRIPTION)
Newspaper headline, Indian Sterilization Urged

(SPEECH)
Nigel Irwin/Bryden Swiss Kiwenzie]

[foreboding music]

- [Niki Ashton] Forced sterilization of Indigenous women constitutes torture.

- [Reporter] A class action lawsuit alleges it's happening right here in Canada.

(chanting)

(DESCRIPTION)
Words in a newspaper article highlighted, "sterilized after their 35th birthday". Nurses smile with swaddled babies.

(SPEECH)
- [Speaker 1] They were badgered into getting sterilized.

- [Speaker 2] This is absolutely unacceptable, and we will do all that we can to ensure that this no longer occurs.

(DESCRIPTION)
Cover of Emily Murphy biography "Crusader"

(SPEECH)
- [Speaker 3] Indigenous women in this country are still subjected to the harm of ongoing colonialism and systemic discrimination.

(DESCRIPTION)
The Problems of the Subnormal Family by Rev. T.C. Douglas, B.A.

(SPEECH)
["Rebuild" by Greyson Gritt/Silla]

(DESCRIPTION)
The outline of a large-trunked tree with several branches, Text appears over the tree, Eugenics.

(SPEECH)
(uneasy droning piano music)

(DESCRIPTION)
Shadow figure of a Dene woman.

(SPEECH)
(ominous piano music)

(DESCRIPTION)
Text, Birth.

Newspaper headline, Sterilize the Unfit, By Clarence M. Hinks M.D. -- Group of people outside Eugenics Building, Numbers dial in on the year 1867, Text, Sir John A. Macdonald, Prime Minister of Canada.

(SPEECH)
(film reel whirring) (counter ticking) - [Narrator as Sir John A. MacDonald]

The great aim of our legislation has been to do away with the tribal system and assimilate the Indian people in all respects with other inhabitants 
of the Dominion as speedily as they 
are fit to change.

(counter

(DESCRIPTION)
Counter ticks to year 1883. Edward Blake, Premier of Ontario.

(SPEECH)
ticking) - [Narrator as Edward Blake]

If we leave the young Indian girl who's to mature into a squaw, to have the uncivilized habits of the tribe, the Indian, when he 
marries such a squaw, will likely be pulled into Indian savagery by her.

I have known how difficult it is to eradicate that hereditary taint.

(counter

(DESCRIPTION)
Year 1941.

(SPEECH)
ticking)

(DESCRIPTION)
Dr. J.A. Bildfell, Medical Doctor

(SPEECH)
- [Narrator as Dr. J.A. Bildfell]

It has occurred to 
me during the year that it might be 
expedient to provide for compulsory sterilization.

I am of the opinion 
that sterilization in this case would be justified and beneficial to the Eskimos, generally.

(DESCRIPTION)
Year 1961, Supervisor of Social Services, Essondale Hospital, B.C.

(SPEECH)
(foreboding music) (counter ticking) - [Narrator as supervisor of social services]

The patient is a mentally defective Indian girl who has always been incorrigible, wild, undisciplined, 
and promiscuous.

Sterilization is therefore strongly recommended to prevent the patient from having illegitimate children.

(counter

(DESCRIPTION)
Counter dials to 1973, Jean Chretien.

(SPEECH)
ticking) - [Jean Chrétien] A guy like me is very caught in a difficult situation.

I like to be fair with everybody, and it's not an easy job.

- [Narrator as Jean Chrétien]

There is no policy on behalf of the government to sterilize Indian women.

(counter

(DESCRIPTION)
Among newspaper headlines, counter rolls through the 80's, 90's, Aughts, and finally lands on year 2015, which leads to text, Reports of ongoing forced coerced sterilization of Indigenous women resurface in Canada.

(SPEECH)
ticking) - [Rachel Blaney] Today, the UN Committee Against Torture released a report confirming what we've known all along: Indigenous women continue to be coerced into sterilization in Canada.

["Ice (Dan Kanghur)" by Diyet & The Love Soldiers]

(DESCRIPTION)
The back of an Indigenous woman's white jacket with one vine of flowers that stretches between her shoulders, brown leather fringe hangs beneath the vine, She turns before a projected image of a line of young girls who stand in a queue.

Text, Morningstar Mercredi, Survived Forced Coerced Sterilization

Mercredi walks away, the image casting shadows across her face.

(SPEECH)
(singing in Southern Tutchone)

(DESCRIPTION)
Text, Morningstar Mercredi is a dub poet, storyteller, author, actor, and social activist. Mercredi stands in white jacket with a red scarf, a neutral expression across her face.

Her torso and lap as she sits in a chair and holds beads and a drumstick. Text, Executive Producer, Ewan Affleck, Director, Christopher Paetkau, Co-Director, Adam Gualtieri

Created and written by Ewan Affleck, Christopher Paetkau, Chloe Ross-Rogerson, Adam Gualtieri,

Producers, Christopher Paetkau, Chloe Ross-Rogerson, Creative Directors, Stephen Gladue, Jennifer Podemski, Music Director, Leela Gilday, Director of Photography, Adam Gualtieri, Editor & Animator, Adam Gualtieri, Sound Editor, Adam Gualtieri

Production Manager, Chloe Ross-Rogerson, Senior Project Advisor, Alika Lafontaine, Featuring, Morningstar Mercredi, Knowledge Holders and Subject Matter Experts, Alika Lafontaine, Aluki Kotierk, Marie Wilson, Film Title, The Unforgotten, Courtesy of: Iskwe,

Special thanks, Canadian Medical Association Team, Daron Donohue, Karen Blondin Hall, Janelle Bruneau, Dana Francey, Transcripts, Rev dot com, Translations, Edgar dot c a., Elizabeth Biscaye. Stills and Stock Footage Courtesy of, 'Sterilization Act Has Much Backing' / Edmonton Journal, 'Sterilize the Unfit' / Clarence M. Hincks / Maclean's, The Provincial Archives of Alberta, National Firm Board of Canada

Shot on Location. 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. Edmonton, Alberta -- Treaty 6

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.