Screening times:
Wednesday, March 26, 1:00 PM - screening at Carbon Arc with special guests attending
Wednesday, March 26, 7:00 PM - evening screening at Bus Stop Theatre with special guests attending
Eppo Eerkes | 2023 | Canada, Pimicikamak Cree Nation | 60 min
Cree and English with English subtitles
with Elder Betty Ross
An additional screening of this film will happen later on the same day but at a different venue. Return to the Falls will screen again on the evening of Wednesday March 26 at Bus Stop Theatre. Tickets to the evening screening at Bus Stop Theatre are available from Bus Stop Theatre.
Return to the Falls is a powerful docudrama that shares the true story of a young Indigenous girl's resilience and survival. It follows the harrowing life story of Elder Betty Ross of Pimicikamak Cree Nation (aka Cross Lake First Nation), who held the sacred teachings of her father like a torch helping her survive the residential school system.
A hybrid of dramatic, cinematic reenactments of Betty's childhood journey of unimaginable hardships and euphoric moments of freedom combined with present day footage of Betty as she returns to the falls for the first time in more than 70 years.
The event will begin with a brief introduction to the film and its accompanying teacher's guide, highlighting the importance of sharing this story and promoting reconciliation. The filmmakers will also acknowledge and welcome any special guests in attendance.
Following the screening will be a Q&A with Elder Betty Ross and the filmmakers, a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the story, its significance, and the impact of the residential school system on Indigenous communities.
Elder Betty Ross of Pimicikamak Cree Nation is a Residential school survivor of two systems, namely: St.Joseph’s Residential School in Cross Lake and Assiniboia Residential School in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is an author who shares her residential school experiences within her two storybooks, Sugar Falls (2011) and Did You See Us? (2021)
Elder Betty Ross is a mother of two sons and two daughters, a grandmother of 15 grandsons, and 12 granddaughters and a great-grandmother of 10 great-grand generations.
Elder Betty Ross currently works at the Seven Oaks School Division as Elder in Residence. She works for three different schools, specializing in Indigenous Cultural Initiatives for kindergarten to grade 12 where she connects with over 300 students monthly. In addition to this work, she works to connect with various community organizations across Canada by sharing the true history of residential school experiences.
