This film based on a true story, is about Russ, a young teacher who takes the job no one wants: teaching history in a small Inuit township in northern Canada. This desolate town, isolated from the rest of the world, is extremely poor. Families struggle daily with drug abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence, and a long history of broken promises from “white men”. Understandably, these kids don’t care about attending class, or doing homework – especially when it’s unclear where their next meal will come from, or worse…which one of their classmates will commit suicide.
After getting a small taste of how challenging his teaching assignment would be, Russ plans to stay long enough to have his student debt cleared, or as soon as a better opportunity presents itself. So he prepares to leave, until he remembers the confidence he once built playing college Lacrosse. He figures Lacrosse might give these kids a reason to live.
The importance of this film
The stories of First Nations communities are rarely told. When they are, we often see indigenous people presented as one dimensional “mystical” characters assisting some white character on a journey of self-discovery. I thought this storyline would be similar, but it wasn’t. I’m GLAD it wasn’t.
The film focuses much more on Inuit youth and the serious challenges they face. According to the National Institutes of Health, suicide among Inuits are among the highest in the world. There are reportedly 135 suicides per every 100,000 persons. This rate is 10 times higher than the rest of Canada. In short, suicide is an epidemic within the Inuit community. This film takes this hard truth head on by delving deep into the lives of each student to show all the factors that contribute to their sense of hopelessness.
What I liked most about the film was the balance and wisdom the Inuit principal brought to the story. Initially, she comes off as somewhat rude and unyielding, but it becomes clear that she is only being protective. From her perspective, teachers like Russ come a dime a dozen. They erroneously believe changing complex and systemic issues will happen now that they are there. Better yet, they think they can change the culture without having to learn it or respect it. Believing that Russ is like all the rest, she pushes back on the Lacrosse initiative. She reminds him that in this community broken promises have dire consequences. He needed to feel the weight of giving these children hope, and what may happen if it is stripped away.
This was a good film. This story needs to be told.
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