Where the Spirit Lives (1990)
A moving tribute to a young girl's courage and indomitable spirit...
In 1937, a young First Nations (Canadian native) girl named Ashtecome is kidnapped along with several other children from a village as part of a deliberate Canadian policy to force First Nations children to abandon their culture in order to be assimilated into white Canadian/British society. She is taken to a boarding school where she is forced to adopt Western Euro-centric ways and learn English, often under brutal treatment. Only one sympathetic white teacher who is more and more repelled by this bigotry offers her any help from among the staff. That, with her force of will, Ashtecome (forced to take the name Amelia) is determined to hold on to her identity and that of her siblings, who were also abducted.
Cast
- Michelle St. John - Komi / Amelia
- Kim Bruisedhead Fox - Anataki
- Marianne Jones - Komi's Mother
- Gus Chief Moon - Ka - moos - ee
- Clayton Julian - Pita / Abraham
- Margaret Cozry - Grandmother
- Marge Fox - Anataki's Mother
- Ann-Marie MacDonald - Kathleen
- Sean Mulcahy - Priest
- Sam Malkin - Mr. Crawford
Screenplay
Keywords
canada, boarding school, native american
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Where the Spirit Lives about?
- In 1937, a young First Nations (Canadian native) girl named Ashtecome is kidnapped along with several other children from a village as part of a deliberate Canadian policy to force First Nations children to abandon their culture in order to be assimilated into white Canadian/British society. She is taken to a boarding school where she is forced to adopt Western Euro-centric ways and learn English, often under brutal treatment. Only one sympathetic white teacher who is more and more repelled by this bigotry offers her any help from among the staff. That, with her force of will, Ashtecome (forced to take the name Amelia) is determined to hold on to her identity and that of her siblings, who were also abducted.
- Who directed Where the Spirit Lives?
- Where the Spirit Lives was directed by Bruce Pittman.
- Who stars in Where the Spirit Lives?
- Where the Spirit Lives stars Michelle St. John, Kim Bruisedhead Fox, Marianne Jones, Gus Chief Moon, Clayton Julian, Margaret Cozry.
- How long is Where the Spirit Lives?
- Where the Spirit Lives has a runtime of 1h 36m (96 minutes).
- What genre is Where the Spirit Lives?
- Where the Spirit Lives is a Drama film.
- Where was Where the Spirit Lives produced?
- Where the Spirit Lives was produced in Canada.