Niigaanibatowaad: FrontRunners
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- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
At a special ceremony during the opening of the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, seven First Nations men in their fifties entered the stadium in war canoes. One of them held the Games torch.
In 1967 when Winnipeg first hosted the Pan American Games, ten outstanding athletic teenage boys were chosen to run 800 kilometers over an ancient message route with the Games torch. When the runners arrived at the stadium, they were not allowed to enter with the torch. Instead, a non-Aboriginal runner was given the honor. Thirty-two-years later, the province of Manitoba issued an official apology.
Nine of the ten young men chosen for the 1967 Pan Am Games torch run were from residential schools. Niigaanibatowaad is about the segregation of the Aboriginal athletes and the despair and abuse suffered in the school system. Niigaanibatowaad: FrontRunners is a story of survival, hope, reconciliation and a dream for a new beginning that transcends hatred and racism.
Citation
Main credits
Lewis, Lori (film director)
Lewis, Lori (film producer)
Lewis, Lori (actor)
Robinson, Laura (screenwriter)
Robinson, Laura (film producer)
Jarvis, Liz (film producer)
Desmoulins, Ron (actor)
George, Derek (actor)
Other credits
Director of photography, Don Lowe; editor & sound designer, John Gurdebeke; music, James Creasey.
Distributor subjects
Animated filmsKeywords
WEBVTT
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[music]
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Granddaughter, listen carefully,
I’m going to tell you
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a true story, a story which began
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over 100 years ago. When the
Canadian government and churches
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started to steal our
children, 100,000 children,
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granddaughter, taken from our families
and hurt in every possible way.
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[sil.]
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forced to speak a new language,
and worship a new god.
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They call this place \"School\".
The last one closed in 1996.
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In this place our
traditions were exploited.
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So to outsiders, it might look
like they treated us well.
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One of those traditions was running.
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In 1967, Winnipeg, Manitoba hosted
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the Pan Am Games. 10 Indian boys
were chosen to run hundreds of miles
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with the games torch, and deliver
it to the stadium which they did.
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It started in St Paul, Minnesota,
traveled endless hours of
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open highway along a very old message route
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ending six days later at the Winnipeg
stadium. But in one sense, granddaughter,
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that run was never really completed.
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And now in 1999, Winnipeg has
brought back the Pan Am game,
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and Dave, invited the runners
back too to be honored
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at the opening ceremonies. But one of them
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isn’t ready to come back, granddaughter.
He has his own journey to finish first.
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[non-English narration]
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[sil.]
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[music]
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[sil.]
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[sil.]
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Thomas, it’s Michael.
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Michael Moose the guy at the front
desk told me you got here yesterday
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and never came out of your room since. Everybody is
waiting for you in the lobby. They even call us limo.
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Come on down, or I’m coming up.
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[music]
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I sure never thought I’d see those guys
again. Last time, we were together,
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we’re just a bunch of boys with a set of
glasses each in a (inaudible) the match.
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Yep, here we were, a bunch
of Indians running down
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(inaudible) with the cops in
front of us like we are royalty.
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Who would have thought those Pan Am game
people would track us down, and invite us back
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a lot of memories. I
spent the last 32 years
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trying to forget most of them.
Yesterday, out of no where I saw
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Michael Moose for the first time, and I
don’t know how many years we’re all being
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put up in the same posh
hotel for these games.
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And that’s another hard one
to get my head around.
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We sure didn’t have days like
this in residential school.
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That’s where I know Michael from.
We’re both young and fast.
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Back home that’s where we learned to
really run. It’s how we got everywhere.
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[sil.]
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At residential school
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They thought they’re making us
into good little white boys,
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soldiers who could run.
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[sil.]
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Hey, shut up.
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[sil.]
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And I hate this place. So cold.
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(inaudible) is weird,
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you know. He looked to at me like…
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Hey, what’s your name?
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I’m Thomas Solomon Matthew Ross, but uh…
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you can call me Thomas. My real name
is Michael Zacharias Peter Paul Moose.
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By the time I was born, my mom said,
she wasn’t having any more kids.
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So she got really last two disciple
names with me. She told my dad,
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if Jesus could run out of disciples then she could run
out of kids.\" So you like those guys in the Bible
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who follow Jesus around.
The only thing I follow is
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animal tracks. Nimiquinoa.
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Hey, we got to be real careful about talking
(inaudible) in here. You get in big trouble
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if the principal finds out. So you always got
to be pretending like you really are hunting.
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Yes. So this time you’re the animal.
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What are you talking about? You got to hear the
principal before he hears you. I’m not staying long.
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That’s what everyone says. Look, there’s
ways of figuring this place out of making
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certain things work your way. Yeah.
You just met the principal.
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You gotta make sure, he doesn’t touch you.
What do you mean? You know.
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Bother you. I’d punch to get
right out if he touches me.
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I’d flatten him, you know. My brothers and
I wrestle all the time. Don’t bother.
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He’ll just get some of his helpers to hold you
down. The principal has his own watchdogs in here.
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And after he’s done with
you, they get a turn.
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Don’t worry though. We’ve got our own guys in
here, big brothers. We’ll watch out for you.
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Just don’t become a squealer, and tell
on us, if we start talking (inaudible)
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or other things we’re not supposed to.
And what do you mean flatten him?
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You’re so skinny, we could hang you up in the
fields out there to scare away the crows.
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So what if I’m not big? My uncle told me,
I got a good wind. I can run forever.
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I don’t get tired. I run,
and no one can catch me.
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No one can catch you eh? We’ll see.
We’ve got a pretty fast team,
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plains residential kicks everybody’s
but around here. I’m the captain so
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I get to tell the coach who I think
should try off. That’s easy,
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running down here. Everything’s
just flat and empty.
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My dad and I, would take our dogs out in a trap line. I’d
clear the whole way in my moccasins there’s no issues.
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He called me a front runner
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() about to opt. So run out with you guys,
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that’s easy, I’ll take you on.
You can’t race in moccasins.
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There’s an extra pair of
running shoes right here.
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I’ve got spikes this season. They go to
the fast guys, you get our leftovers.
00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:09.999
I don’t think you’ll be getting a fancy pair of running
shoes just because you run with your dogs back home.
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I don’t know no fancy shoes to beat you.
I could beat you in my moccasins.
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I could beat you in my bare feet.
We race tomorrow after school.
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You just bring those runners. The
best way of getting out of here
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is to make the running team.
Yeah, sure Thomas.
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If you know what’s good for you, you wouldn’t
act like such a tough guy. All right, sure.
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In the morning, you just do what I do, and wake up
when I get up, or the principal will come up here,
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and have you for breakfast. Understand?
Yeah, I understand.
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Good. Thanks. I mean, I never
had pair runners before.
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We got to get some sleep.
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He pushed like that right from the start
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telling me he was going to work my ass
before even laced on a pair of runners,
00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:09.999
wasted energy in all that bragging,
00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.999
and wasted words. He didn’t know
it then but he had found himself
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in a whole team of front runners. Pretty well, all
of us guys were from the north, and had a dog team.
00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.999
We had been running out in front of them, since
we could remember, we were fast in those days.
00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:29.999
The faster we ran, the longer
we stayed out of that prison.
00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:34.999
What were they doing sticking us in there? Telling our
parents and our grandparents, they couldn’t raise us,
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telling us that our language was forbidden.
00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:44.999
[sil.]
00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:49.999
[non-English narration]
00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:54.999
Some things are better left alone.
00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:59.999
Time’s suppose to heal.
00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.999
Isn’t that what they say?
00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:09.999
[sil.]
00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:15.000
[music]
00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:39.999
What did I tell you, running is easy.
00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.999
Just a bunch of flat places. You really
are fast. I never even saw you coming.
00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.999
Yeah, I saw you there ahead and I said, It’s time
to step on the gas one more time and beat Thomas.
00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:54.999
You’ve got to (inaudible).
That makes you a 41.
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Funny guy. I thought, there’d be just a bunch of Indians like us.
You didn’t tell me, we’re going to whip all these white kids too.
00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:04.999
It doesn’t matter if you win the race if
you got talking bad about white kids,
00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:09.999
though wash your mouth out, you like
to use a wire brush, so no swearing,
00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:14.999
especially about white kids, and not talking
Indian. Shit, I’ll try not to swear.
00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:19.999
You just have to think about what you just
did today, and you’ll feel really good.
00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.999
You don’t need to say anything.
You came by all those guys
00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:29.999
over 100 of them, and running shoes.
Nobody had any use for anymore.
00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:34.999
And they’ve got spikes
even better than mine.
00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:39.999
Yeah, I don’t even have to look back because
I already know, no one’s going to catch me.
00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:44.999
Don’t think, I’ll let that happen again.
You wait. You know, what this means?
00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:49.999
When we get home, we get double helpings.
Planes’ residential is not my home.
00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:54.999
I was just trying to explain the rules.
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You get more food if you win.
I’m getting back on the bus.
00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:04.999
[sil.]
00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:09.999
My boys.
00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:14.999
[sil.]
00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:19.999
How did we do at the race today? Did you
up-hold our standards of excellence?
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Sir, Michael here, really took the race.
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He did. Did he? Yes, Sir.
00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:34.999
Well, Thomas,
00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:39.999
did you at least managed to
come in second? Yes, Sir.
00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:44.999
Good. That means we qualified for the
Manitoba championships next week.
00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:49.999
I always knew we would make
something out of you boys.
00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:54.999
Yes, Sir.
00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:59.999
You’re very young to have beaten
Thomas on your first outing.
00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.999
And you’re just a skinny little thing.
Thank you, Sir.
00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:09.999
Very well. I shall inform the cook.
00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:14.999
You boys can have double helpings.
00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:19.999
Thank you, Sir. Thomas.
00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.999
Yes, Sir. I will see you in my office.
00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:29.999
[sil.]
00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:34.999
That principal thought of me
like I was a trained dog.
00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:39.999
Thought he had beaten all the
wild out of me in my first year.
00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.999
Now I was going to be one
of his little spies.
00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:49.999
After every race, he would
call me into his office.
00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:54.999
[sil.]
00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:59.999
Any swearing? No, Sir.
00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:04.999
Are you sure, Thomas? Yes, Sir.
00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:09.999
Any boys chasing girls?
00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:14.999
No, Sir. If you see any of our boys
00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:19.999
looking at girls in a
dirty way, particularly
00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:24.999
white girls, I want you
00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:29.999
to report it to me immediately.
Do you understand?
00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:34.999
Yes, Sir.
00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:39.999
[sil.]
00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:44.999
The principal spent a lot of
time talking to me about girls,
00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:49.999
how bad and filthy they were.
00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:54.999
And how secretly they wanted to… to…
00:15:55.000 --> 00:16:03.000
[sil.]
00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:09.999
Everything had a price there.
Kids hungry all the time.
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.999
[sil.]
00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:19.999
Only the boys on the team got more food.
00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:24.999
And I still had to do…
00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.999
[sil.]
00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:34.999
Those things. [sil.]
00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:39.999
Those things he made us do.
00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:44.999
Thomas. Thomas, are you asleep?
00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:49.999
Thomas, are you asleep?
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.999
Not any more.
00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:59.999
I can’t sleep. It always starts
tripping up and down in my head.
00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:04.999
And, you know, some of
them are really bad. Yeah.
00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:09.999
I know. Even the good
ones make me feel bad.
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:14.999
Sometimes, you want to have one nice
picture in your head, but there’s these
00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:19.999
other awful pictures that are… that
keep hogging up all the space,
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.999
and there’s no room anymore
for good thoughts.
00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:29.999
I felt really good today, you know,
00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:34.999
going by all you guys, and winning that
race. I’m going to get you next week.
00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:39.999
You’ll get used to that second place
feeling. I’ll take you again next week.
00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:44.999
Yeah. Keep telling yourself that.
00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.999
Thomas.
00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:54.999
Yeah.
00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:59.999
I thought I was going to throw up all the way back
on the bus. Why? I got afraid, someone would tell
00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.999
(inaudible) and the principal. Try to think
that you’ve got people around your mouth
00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:09.999
when you have thoughts like that
and… and swallow them. Yeah, yeah,
00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:14.999
I’ll do that, Thomas. But
something else is bugging me.
00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:19.999
Like? During the race, I thought
about my dogs in (inaudible).
00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:24.999
And how fast I ran at home.
00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:29.999
The more I think about
home, the worse I feel.
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:34.999
Sometimes, I have to think
real hard to remember
00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:39.999
what my dogs look like. I call them by name
00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.999
and they come running one by one.
00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:49.999
I miss them so much when I do that.
00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:54.999
But I think I’d feel even worse
if they never came back again.
00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:59.999
I even miss Samuel. He’s my brother.
00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.999
You know, he’s the one who taught me
00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:09.999
how to skin rabbits and fishing.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:14.999
Yeah, fishing is good.
00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:19.999
I just wanted to fish. My mom
could really cook a pickle.
00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.999
Oh, pickle is really good, if you
can get somebody to fry it in.
00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:29.999
If my mom was cooking a pickle, I got home
first. We only got butter once store.
00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:34.999
We got it from the Hudson’s Bay.
00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:39.999
I hate this school.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.999
Someday, we’ll go home. I’m
getting on the first bus
00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:49.999
the day school’s over. It’s
been three summers now
00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.999
and I still haven’t gone home.
00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:59.999
We work on the farm here. Not
everyone goes home for summer.
00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.999
[sil.]
00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:09.999
Hey, I forgot to tell you.
You know what else?
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.999
What? The coach told me, he’s going to order you
a pair of these in time for the credentials.
00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:19.999
Really? They look so cool
00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:24.999
like the one for the Olympics. The coach,
he’s not like the principal. Is he?
00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:29.999
No, he’s a good guy. But
he’s not part of the school.
00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.999
You should see the principal with him, he tries to butt
him up, wants him to think he’s real nice to us too.
00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:39.999
Man, I can’t wait to get those spikes.
You got to learn how to use them though.
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.999
See you can put a set of holes and some
guys like so fast with them thinks.
00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:49.999
And then if you’re Indian, you
get disqualified for sure.
00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:54.999
You know, I was going to make sure I’m so far ahead of
everyone. There won’t be any legs near me except my own.
00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:59.999
You watch you don’t get
too big on yourself.
00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.999
My dad says running is a gift,
it doesn’t really belong to us.
00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:09.999
Man, my family says the same thing. They say there’s
so many of us. If you just think about yourself,
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:14.999
you’ll be fishing all alone in no time.
00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:19.999
But there’s no fish here and if I’m hungry, and running
gets me fed more, then I’m running, and you got to do too
00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:24.999
because some kids have died here. Kids die?
00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:29.999
I’ve seen them get the doctor at
night and that kid disappears,
00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.999
we have to say extra prayers. Kids die?
00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:39.999
[sil.]
00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.999
Not you. Hey, I forgot to
tell you about them spikes.
00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:49.999
Your feet, they got to learn
how to feel the earth.
00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:54.999
You know, I’m just going to
do whatever you do because,
00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:59.999
you know, you’re the only guy I have to worry about,
and I’m the only guy you have to worry about.
00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.999
Right?
00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:09.999
[sil.]
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:14.999
Thomas.
00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:19.999
Yeah. What did the principal want?
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.999
What did he want?
00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:33.000
[sil.]
00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:39.999
Michael wanted to know, but I couldn’t tell
him. What wasn’t a secret in that place?
00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.999
You couldn’t tell the lies from the truth
most days, and all of it was messed up,
00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:49.999
and hushed up, and covered up.
00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:54.999
I was the principal’s little
spy riding on other kids.
00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:59.999
I had to tell on some or,
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:04.999
he would have had it out for me too, but
there was no way I’d ride on Michael.
00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:09.999
[sil.]
00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:14.999
That Track Team was the closest thing the little
angels that principal ever got. And then…
00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:19.999
[sil.]
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.999
And then he pushed too far.
00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:33.000
[non-English narration]
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:04.999
welcome to the 1967 Manitoba
Provincial Cross Country
00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:09.999
Running Championships. All high
school boys to the start line.
00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:14.999
On the count of five, four,
00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:19.999
three, two, one. They’re off.
00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:24.999
This is the bit of a tricky course folks.
00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:29.999
After the first lap, it
looks like it’s (inaudible)
00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:34.999
spread Harper with Plains residential
Michael Moose hot on his heels.
00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:39.999
Harper is still leading but this time
Thomas Ross has pulled up his side.
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:44.999
[music]
00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:49.999
Oh… let’s run the last lap now, what a race
it’s going to be for the first two positions.
00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:54.999
It’s Harper and Ross, neck in neck, wait
Moose as just shot out of the chase pack
00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:59.999
like he’s got wings on his feet.
This boy is flying.
00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.999
Now that’s a 100 feet to finish. Moose isn’t
slowing down, he’s right on Ross’s shoulders
00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:09.999
but it looks like he’s kicking in a new
higher gear, Ross and Moose are one, two,
00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.999
one, two. It’s neck in neck.
They got to finish and it’s…
00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:23.000
[music]
00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:34.999
[sil.]
00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:39.999
Well, what did we win today boys?
The provincial championships, Sir.
00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.999
I always knew with the right trainee I can
make you boys into something worthwhile.
00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:49.999
Yes, Sir. Give me the medals.
00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:54.999
Give you my medal?
00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:59.999
Did I hear you addressed
me properly Michael?
00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:04.999
Did you say give me my medal, Sir?
00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:09.999
Yes, Michael. Awards go on the front
(inaudible). How else would people know,
00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.999
what a good job we’ve done with boys
just out of the bush, with ill kept hair
00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:19.999
and unwashed bodies, disgusting
thoughts in their minds.
00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:24.999
When you win at sport, it
shows, what a civilizing effect
00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:29.999
the school had on you. Thanks mainly to the
teachings of Christ, and his soldiers.
00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:38.000
[sil.]
00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:54.999
The trophy too.
00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:59.999
[sil.]
00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:04.999
Good. Thomas, I will see you in my office.
00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:09.999
Michael, get to the shower.
00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:14.999
You’re smelling like your origins.
Yes, Sir.
00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:19.999
[sil.]
00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:24.999
Actually, we smelt of a job well done.
00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:29.999
We smelt of creep beds
in the earth and autumn.
00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:34.999
We smelt of the effort of the young men.
But it was all dirty though,
00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:39.999
because he was on Indians.
00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.999
And what did I smell?
00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:49.999
The worst possible stink
coming off of that rat.
00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:54.999
[sil.]
00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:59.999
Why did he make me do it?
00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.999
I’ve been thinking about this
question every single day of my life.
00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:13.000
[sil.]
00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:19.999
One of the girls chose to tarnish the
school’s reputation by running away.
00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:24.999
You people. We do our best.
00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:29.999
This girl still had to act
out her delinquent behavior.
00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:34.999
[sil.]
00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:39.999
No doubt where now she’s on her way to
CD Street to advertise her services.
00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:44.999
I’m putting my trust in you to find
her, and bring her back immediately.
00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:49.999
But Sir, I don’t know who ran away.
00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:54.999
Rose Moose, ran before farm
chores past the poplar stands.
00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:59.999
[sil.]
00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.999
Find Rose. Do you understand?
00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:09.999
Rose Moose, Sir.
00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:14.999
No dinner for you until
you bring her back to me.
00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:19.999
Yes, Sir.
00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.999
Very well, off you go.
00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:29.999
I didn’t know what he’d do to Rose.
00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:38.000
[music]
00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:44.999
So she followed me back.
00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:49.999
I tried to get the dirt off her
sitting like that by the barn.
00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:54.999
[sil.]
00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:59.999
But the principal said, it
was the dirt inside her
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.999
that need a punishing.
00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:09.999
Bring her here.
00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:14.999
[sil.]
00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:19.999
Rose didn’t run away, Sir. She’s
going to come back anyways.
00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:24.999
[sil.]
00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:29.999
Into my office, now.
00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:38.000
[sil.]
00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:15.000
[music]
00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:09.999
Hey, Thomas, we both got letters.
Enoch, they’re both from Winnipeg.
00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:14.999
[sil.]
00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:19.999
Dear Mr. Moose, Mr. Moose. Mr.Moose.
You’re running abilities
00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:24.999
have come to the attention of the Pan American games organizers. We
would like to recognize the great achievements of our Indian boys.
00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:29.999
Runners from all over North and South America
will be running with the Pan Am game
00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:34.999
torch until it arrives safely at the Pan-Am
games… That was truly a magical day.
00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:39.999
I had some fun with Michael, but we weren’t just getting out
of there. We’re doing it in style. And the whole thing went on
00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:44.999
above the principal’s head. He tried to
take credit for it but no one believed him.
00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:49.999
We even put up with the Indian agent before we left. And then all
of a sudden, we started pulling our brand new running shoes,
00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:54.999
brand new socks, white ones. It’s the
first time, I’d worn anything new.
00:32:55.000 --> 00:33:00.000
We’re headed to the US away in style.
00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:13.000
[music]
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:48.000
[music]
00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:13.000
[music]
00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:19.999
My legs are so sore from one
and all those highways.
00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:24.999
Feels good to swim after running all day.
And those big beds.
00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:29.999
[sil.]
00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:34.999
But do you know what I like better?
What? Those girls at the pool.
00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:39.999
Lifeguards. Yeah, lifeguards.
Boy they’re pretty?
00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:44.999
And what about what Solomon day?
00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:49.999
Uh… Just trying to get their attention, diving off
that big board, when he had his belly on that water,
00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:54.999
that brown skin turned bright red. Of course, that was after
his face turned blue from being at the bottom of the pool.
00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:59.999
He sure didn’t mind what the lifeguard had to
do to make him breathe again. What about you
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.999
looking down her top every time she bent over to breathe
into his mouth? I was just trying to learn something new.
00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:09.999
I don’t care.
00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:14.999
This is the best thing I ever did. All
those people come in other towns,
00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:19.999
and running with us. Don’t
drink so much pot tomorrow,
00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:24.999
we have to stop the run all the time for you to
take a leak today. You water half the state.
00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:29.999
And did you see the color? It looks just like pop too. I should
have peed back in the bottle and brought it back to the principal.
00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:34.999
Look, Sir, just for you,
the Americans drink it.
00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:40.000
[music]
00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:49.999
Cheers, we had fun being stars. Every place we went there
along some girls, all the guys were being included
00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:54.999
in the American army. We got
invited to this dance. I tell you,
00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:59.999
we thought this was the heaven that everybody
kept talking about in residential school.
00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:04.999
Girls all are looking for a fellow to dance with, and just
where all the local guys disappeared into that war in Vietnam.
00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:09.999
We were outnumbered 10 to 1.
00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:14.999
I wish my family could see us.
00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:19.999
The principal said, no one answered his
letters when he sent it up to my reserve.
00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:24.999
But I don’t believe him. I know my mom, and dad would be here if
they knew I was doing this. Don’t worry. Look at all the people
00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:29.999
taking pictures of us. We would get some for your folks. I
promise. There’s even going to be TV cameras in the stadium.
00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:34.999
Cool. Hey, there’s a stadium. And Thomas,
look at all the people all over the place.
00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:39.999
Thomas, this feels so good.
00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:44.999
I feel like I have birds on my feet again.
00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:53.000
[music]
00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:59.999
Thomas, what happened?
00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:04.999
I watched the fireworks at the stadium from the rear
window of the bus that took me back to residential school.
00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:09.999
We could run 500 miles,
00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:14.999
but for the last part of the journey, running that lap
in front of the rest of the world inside the stadium?
00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:19.999
Well, they took the torch away
from us, handed it to a white guy.
00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:24.999
They gave the torch to a runner
Canadians could identify with.
00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:29.999
Not his fault. After all, it
was Canada’s Centennial year.
00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:34.999
100 years since they have
found them self a country
00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:39.999
so there is no way they could have a bunch of Indian
boys running in there with all those TV cameras around.
00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:44.999
Residential school had taught us
not to expect much, and we didn’t.
00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:49.999
[sil.]
00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:54.999
Truth be told. I didn’t deserve
to run into that stadium anyways.
00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:59.999
[sil.]
00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:04.999
Not after what I did for the principal.
00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:13.000
[sil.]
00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:19.999
Thomas, it’s Michael. Yeah,
00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:24.999
Micheal Moose, the guy at the front
desk told me you got here yesterday,
00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:30.000
and never came out of your room since.
Everybody is waiting for you.
00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:44.999
[sil.]
00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:49.999
It’s open. I said it’s open.
00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:54.999
I don’t recall ordering room service.
00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:59.999
Oh, I’m not room service.
00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:04.999
You forgot your running shoes,
00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:09.999
used to be what you put on your feet was
the most important thing in your life.
00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:14.999
Who are you? I didn’t
think you’d remember me.
00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:19.999
The last time you saw me, you drop
me off at the principal’s door.
00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:24.999
You can’t be. Oh, yes, I can.
00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:29.999
After all those other people
telling us what we can’t be.
00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:34.999
I’m Rose Moose.
00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:39.999
I thought you… I heard all that screaming
00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:44.999
and… I never saw you again.
00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:49.999
I thought he killed you because I brought
you back. He almost did, Thomas.
00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:54.999
After what he did to me,
00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:59.999
he used a hockey stick.
00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:04.999
I can’t have children.
00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:09.999
[sil.]
00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:14.999
I spent two weeks in that infirmary.
00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:19.999
A nurse got me through.
00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:24.999
She wrote a report, closed
the school after we left.
00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:29.999
But I got out, Thomas.
00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:35.000
I got way out.
00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:04.999
I had to get help,
00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:09.999
went back to our old ways.
00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:14.999
It’s a long dark shadow, Thomas. Sometimes,
00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:19.999
it comes back. It nearly killed us all.
00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:24.999
But it didn’t kill all of us.
We’ve got every reason
00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:29.999
to be angry.
00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:34.999
But what good would it do?
Anger eats you up
00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:39.999
like those awful memories.
00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:44.999
Michael says, you told him
that in his first year.
00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:49.999
I was too young to know any better.
Why shouldn’t I be angry?
00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:54.999
Look what happened to you?
And I helped them.
00:41:55.000 --> 00:42:00.000
Somehow, I knew you didn’t.
00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:34.999
Do you remember when the principal
00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:39.999
used to call you runners, Christ’s army?
00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:44.999
Well, it all became clear to me like that
00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:49.999
boys being made into soldiers for sick men.
It has to end.
00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:58.000
Come on get ready.
00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:19.999
You still feel guilty?
It wasn’t your fault.
00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:24.999
Your guilt doesn’t help the rest of us.
You’ve got a job to do, Thomas.
00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:29.999
The whole Pan Am Games can’t stop on
account of you. You’re a front runner.
00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:34.999
Put those shoes on now.
00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:39.999
[sil.]
00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:44.999
You’re still running, aren’t you?
Sometimes, I think, it’s the only thing
00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:49.999
that keeps me saying, though I’m not
even sure of that. Well, I brought some
00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:54.999
nice fast kids for you to coach. Me, Coach? Well,
they want to go to the national championships,
00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:59.999
and they can’t do it on their own. I
don’t know anything about coaching.
00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:04.999
That’s not what Michael says.
We’ve been training lots of kids,
00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:13.000
the past what I can do with them.
I brought six kids with me.
00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:24.999
Jesus, I don’t know. Well,
practice is tomorrow,
00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:29.999
10 am, at Assiniboine Park.
Assiniboine Park.
00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:34.999
You got any kids running cross country?
I knew the old Thomas would come back.
00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:39.999
You got to watch what spikes you use. See in
the springtime when the ground’s still frozen…
00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:44.999
Ah, tell the kids tomorrow. Let’s go.
Everyone’s waiting in the lobby.
00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:49.999
[music]
00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:54.999
In the summer of 1967,
00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:59.999
nine young men ran the Pan-American
torch from Minneapolis Minnesota
00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:04.999
to the steps of the Winnipeg Stadium.
Now 32 years later,
00:45:05.000 --> 00:45:09.999
seven of the original runners returned.
The torch runners
00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:15.000
from the 1967 Pan American Games.