♪ [Indistinct chatter] [Whispering] The day my children were taken.

The day my children were taken.

I'm a good mother.

I'm strong.

Keep it together.

[Indistinct whispering] I'm a good mother.

I'm a good mother.

Come on.

Woman: All rise.

Judge Fleming presiding.

Fleming: Welcome.

Counsel?

Thank you, Your Honor.

Leading up to the removal of the Little Bird children, the social workers who were present noted a number of signs of neglect, including inadequate food, unfit living conditions, and a sick child kept in a crawlspace under the floor as a part of some type of punishment.

Fleming: What's the recommendation, Counsel?

Counsel: My recommendation is that the children who are now in foster care and thriving, become permanent wards of the Crown and be given a fair chance of integration into Canadian society.

Fleming: Will the representative of the Little Bird family corroborate?

Thank you kindly, Counsel.

[Clears throat] I can confirm that this report is accurate and true and matches my notes on the situation that we found.

I would like to add that the father is no longer in the picture.

The mother is all alone.

Therefore, I am in full support of Counsel's recommendation.

Fleming: Can you confirm that the children are thriving in foster care?

Oh, yes.

And there has been significant interest in all 3 children from very good homes who are looking to adopt.

Fleming: This court finds that it's in the best interest of the children that they become permanent wards of the Crown.

Thank you, Counsel.

[Gavel pounds] Woman: All rise!

-I...I have this to say.

-It's over.

[Indistinct chatter] [Bawling and wailing] [Man speaking Indigenous language] ["Hey, Little Bird" by Buffy Sainte-Marie playing] ♪ Hey, little bird, I remember you ♪ ♪ You with your dreams up higher than you could fly ♪ ♪ Hey, I remember you ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, little bird ♪ ♪ Lost in the summer sun ♪ ♪ Those were the days when your feathers were new ♪ ♪ And I remember you ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Now it's all coming back ♪ ♪ The whole world is your habitat ♪ ♪ But more than that ♪ ♪ If we meet again, will you know me?

♪ ♪ So, little bird ♪ ♪ Flash your colors and I will sing ♪ ♪ Glide into time with the moon on your wing ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Like a gull of the sea ♪ ♪ Your resting place ♪ ♪ Could be heaven or countless oceans ♪ ♪ Far from me ♪ [Indistinct voices on recording] Hi, sweetheart.

Come here.

Give me a hug.

Ohh!

How was your day?

Girl: Cool.

[Kid laughing] Adele: Where did you find this ball?

Next door?

[Girl speaking indistinctly] Adele: Oh!

Who's winning?

Ooh!

[Car door slams, Adele speaking indistinctly] Did you follow me to my house?

Well, I thought that maybe you might talk to me in a less formal setting.

You can't come to my home.

Look, I wouldn't normally do this, but I felt like you were about to say something-- -I can't help you.

-I know, and I know this isn't how this is supposed to go.

But what if your daughter never got to meet your son?

[Sighs] I just don't understand what harm you or Child Protective Services think it would do.

Come back to the office, and I'll check with legal.

Legal isn't gonna release any of my information.

Look, I need to get lunch on.

Wait.

Please.

In case you remember something... [Whispering] Do not come to my house again.

Adele: Go inside.

Girl: Bezhig?

[Girl speaking indistinctly] Bezhig, I need you.

[Child crying] Esther: Do you have any sense of where Dora might be?

Mrs. Mueller: I haven't seen her in 5 years now.

She ran off.

Esther: You...you didn't report it to the police?

Mrs. Mueller's son: She didn't run away from home.

She was kicked out.

[Paper rustling] [Thunder] [Exhales] [Exhales] Where are you?

[Train horn blowing] [Train wheels clanking on rails] [Traffic noise] [Exhales slowly] [Door opens] [Traditional Native drumming and chanting] ♪ Ow!

You're hurting me!

Stop moving, then.

Jeez!

I love your costume.

It's not a costume.

[Man greeting in Ojibwe] I was beginning to think that we were the only Natives at this hotel.

Are you here for the pow-wow?

Me?

No.

I mean, I would have loved to, but... Man: Where are you from?

Esther: Montreal.

Ha ha ha!

No, where are you from?

I'm not really sure.

Well, say no more.

I'm Cliff.

Esther.

But also...Bezhig?

Bezhig?

Oh, Bezhig?

That means "number one" in Ojibwe.

Ojibwe?

Where are they from?

We come from all over the place.

We spread like wildfire.

[Cliff and Esther laugh] Woman: Cliff.

Come help me with these bags!

[Native drumming and chanting] I'm gonna dance for you, Bezhig.

[Vehicle approaching, then receding] [Girl crying] [Girl coughing] [Wind blowing] [Indistinct chatter] Hi.

I'm hoping you can help me.

I'm looking for any public document or record to help me find my sister.

It's 13.55.

Woman: Esther Rosenblum?

Here's your girl.

Excuse me.

I need any phone number or address associated with these charges.

Well, I can't be giving out personal information.

Ok, sure.

Can you please call any phone number associated with these charges and... just ask my sister if she wants me to have her number?

"Officer called to the scene on an assault charge."

No phone number.

"819 Attley Street, apartment 108."

Be careful.

It's a rough area.

-I'll be fine.

-Sure.

[Sighs] [Dog barking] [Vehicle horn honks twice] [Music playing] [Car door closes] ♪ [Hip-hop song playing on car radio] [Song fades] [Door opens] [Vehicle horn honking] [Children playing] [Bicycle horn honking] [Muffled country song playing] ♪ Anybody home?

[Neighbor's door opens] Woman: Who are you looking for?

Oh, hi.

Uh, Dora Mueller?

Oh, heck.

You're about two years too late.

She didn't die or nothing.

She moved.

Well, do you have any idea where she might be?

Why don't you come in?

I made some tea.

Have a seat.

Sure.

[Indistinct hymn playing] You like that?

Hmm.

It's beautiful.

I've had that a long time.

Thank you.

And there's my grandkids.

You're not from around here, eh?

No.

Not really.

That's OK. Oh, thank you.

My name is Esther, by the way.

Hmm.

Val.

So, you knew Dora?

Ahh.

That depends.

Who's asking?

-She's my sister.

-Really?

Hard to believe, I know.

I got this address from the police, actually.

[Laughing] That's no surprise.

Well, do you know what happened, why the police were called?

It's not my place, but... there was this guy.

He was a real loser.

He was jealous.

He didn't like her working the street, so, he tried to rough her up.

So, she beat the crap out of him.

[Laughing] She threw his stuff out the window.

It was hilarious.

You should have seen it.

[Chuckling] She didn't take crap from nobody, that girl.

Wow.

Well, do you have any idea where I might find her?

Oy.

I haven't seen her since she moved out.

You could try the outreach center.

A lot of the girls go there.

It's just over on Albert, about 10 blocks from here.

Thank you.

I really appreciate your help.

Well, that's good.

And this tea.

Oh, my girl, look at that!

Holy!

Ha ha!

That's bigger than a snowball in the bush in winter.

[Chuckling] Hey, who gave you this one, lucky girl?

His name is David.

Ahh.

Is he nice?

-Yeah.

-Oh.

Well, that's good.

It's always nice to have a sweet guy in your life.

[Birds and insects chirping] [Engine starts] [Country music playing] Man: ♪ But I found you ♪ ♪ When I wasn't looking ♪ ♪ I thought I closed my eyes ♪ ♪ For good ♪ ♪ But I got lucky ♪ [Indistinct chatter] ...seen the look on his ugly fucking face.

[Girls laughing] Dana, the nurse is ready for you and Jeannetta now.

Man: ♪ Set my burdens free... ♪ Can I help you?

Man: ♪ Lay your love down on me ♪ Can I help you?

Oh!

Yes.

I'm looking for my sister, Dora Mueller.

[Phone ringing] Oh.

These girls know her.

Hey.

She's looking for Dora.

She's my sister.

Get the fuck out of town!

I didn't know Dora had a sister.

Oh, my God.

You look just like her.

-You know her?

-Are you kidding?

Dora's my girl.

Fuck off.

She's my girl, too.

Well, do you have any sense of where she might be?

She usually comes around here on Fridays.

That was for her class, but I think that's done.

She's getting her GED.

I can't fucking keep track of her.

Wasn't she picking up shifts at that weird place with the pool tables?

Ronnie's?

No, Eddy's.

Yeah, Eddy's.

Not sure if she is anymore, though.

It's like two blocks that way.

[Indistinct voices, child crying] You OK, honey?

Are you OK, honey?

Yes.

Thank you for your help.

[Indistinct chatter, baby crying] [Indistinct singing] ♪ [Sound of young Dora coughing] Young man: Spare change?

[Guitar chord plays] [Vehicle horn honking] Yeah.

[Coins clinking] Thank you, Sister.

[Vehicle horn honking] [Indistinct country song playing] [Indistinct chatter] ♪ What can I get you?

May I get a glass of red wine, please?

Waitress: Yeah, I think we got a wine back here somewhere.

♪ Thank you.

Thank you.

♪ [Indistinct chatter] [Country song continues] Excuse me?

Are you Dora Mueller?

What do you want?

I've been looking for you.

Well, who the fuck are you?

I'm your sister.

I went to Child Protective Services, and they gave me your name.

They said you were looking for family.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm Bezhig.

[Both crying] Holy shit!

Holy shit!

[Laughs] Oh, my God!

This whole time, I was like, "I know I have a sister out there somewhere."

I didn't know if I was making it up or what.

[Sniffling] Where have you been?

Where the fuck have you been?

[Crying] Look so fancy.

You are so pregnant.

Yes.

Yeah, I'm pregnant.

Holy fuck!

Ha ha ha ha!

My sister Bezhig.

[Crying] [Birds chirping, dog barking] [Siren blaring] This is your car?

Well, no.

It's a rental.

OK, cool.

[Car door closes] [Car door closes] [Seatbelt clicking] So, are you rich or something?

[Scoffs] No.

Not compared to the people who are really rich.

You look so good.

[Chuckles] Thanks.

What did you think I'd look like?

I mean, I didn't know what to think.

I had to find you through the police, and I saw some charges.

And I just got worried.

Don't assume shit about me just 'cause you read some fucking file.

You don't know me!

Sorry.

I didn't mean to offend you.

I'm just really happy to find you.

That's all.

So, what now?

Can we start over?

I was rude, and...

I shouldn't have made assumptions about you.

[Laughing] Do you always talk like that?

Are you a teacher or something?

A lawyer.

Well, not yet but soon.

Holy, just a lawyer?

Ha ha!

Jesus Christ!

No wonder you thought I was all fucking down-and-out.

Ha ha ha ha!

Jeez.

I'm just kidding, fuck.

Do you wanna come to my mansion and meet my man or...what?

If we stay around here much longer, people are gonna think we're fucking dealing or some shit.

-Sure.

-Yeah, let's go.

You should probably put your seatbelt on.

Why, 'cause it's the law?

[Laughing] [Country music playing on radio] Man: ♪ Well, you know I'm not praying from... ♪ Oh, take a left up here.

OK. [Turn signal clicking] Man: ♪ Someone to love ♪ ♪ Just a little while ♪ Anywhere here is fine.

Man: ♪ Though those first few months were lovely ♪ So, Eddy's seemed like a nice place.

No, it's not.

It's fucking gross.

But he pays me under the table, so I can still collect my welfare checks.

OK. Great.

[Turns off radio] [Indistinct chatter] Come in.

Over here.

Mm-hmm.

Wow.

It's a cute little house... in a nice neighborhood.

[Train horn blaring] Baby?

Guess what.

Hey.

Man: Hey.

What, you're pregnant?

[Laughter] Dora: Yeah.

Baby, um, this is my sister.

Wow!

Shit!

Oh!

Dora: Ha ha ha!

OK.

Uh...

I'm Doug.

-Esther.

-Good to meet you.

Wow!

I don't even know what to say.

Uh... Dora: I know.

[Laughter] Well, sister, uh, come have a seat.

Can I take your jacket?

Oh, yeah, sure.

Thank you.

Doug: Yeah, you're welcome.

-Thank you.

-Uh... Baby, you need anything?

Dora: Uh, just a water, please.

-OK. -Thank you.

[Dora exhales] So, I put my name in the Child Protective Services, like, um, 4 years ago, you know, for family and, um...

I wasn't even looking-looking.

Um...I just needed a place to stay.

[Laughs] Here she is.

Yeah, you ordered her up.

Yeah.

[Chuckling] Ohh.

Oh, man.

Even baby thought that was funny.

Ha ha!

She's doing somersaults.

[Exhales slowly] Feel.

[Clears throat] Man: ♪ There's a million wishing... ♪ Baby girl, it's your auntie, Bezhig.

Ha ha ha!

[Dora sniffles] Man: ♪ Just let it go ♪ Man, I didn't even think this baby would have any aunties.

[Chuckles] I met your adoptive family.

What?

Well, it was one of the first places I went to, you know, try to find you.

Your mom seemed cold, but your brother seemed nice.

Fuck them.

Yeah, I got the sense it didn't really go well with them.

It doesn't matter.

They didn't win.

[Inhales, exhales] Doug: Seems like Dora hit the jackpot with you for an older sister.

You becoming a lawyer and all that.

I don't know about that.

This girl, let me tell you something.

You hit the jackpot, too.

Come on.

Stop.

Doug: For real, though.

I mean, the way you pulled yourself up, like, getting your GED and all that.

Hope it's OK to say, but when I first met her, she was this scrappy little angry ball.

[Chuckling] When you'd put your hand on her shoulder, she'd jump like a stray cat or something.

Doug: She's been through a lot.

But ain't nothing keeping her down, ain't that right, Mom?

I'm sorry you had to go through all that.

It made me stronger.

Doug: Working my way up to own my own restaurant and working shifts for whoever will put me on the schedule, you know.

It's tough pulling gigs when you got a record.

Yeah, well, you're a great cook, so I don't see why it won't work out.

Getting tired, Mama?

Yeah.

I am so happy that we met.

I've been staring at these photos that your brother gave me just...not sure if I'd find you.

Oh.

And your brother wanted me to tell you that he misses you and he thinks about you a lot.

-Fuck this.

Fucking done.

-What?

Doug, tell her to go the fuck home!

What?

I'm...

I'm sorry.

I... -Shit, she's gonna be fine.

-I don't know what I said.

I don't know what happened.

It's gonna be fine.

No worries.

Just leave me your number.

I'm sorry.

It's OK.

It's OK.

It is.

She-- she'll come around.

It's only me.

Doing your homework?

-I'm gettin' it done.

-Yeah.

Where...where are Mom and Dad?

Just in the basement, uh... Just watching TV.

They...they can't hear.

Can I see that?

You have on lipstick.

No, no, no.

That's...

It looks really good.

Really good.

[Crying softly] [Sniffles] ♪ Man: ♪ Sounds of the night ♪ ♪ Colors of the dawn ♪ Mrs. Mueller: He's your brother!

Man: ♪ Come to me sadly ♪ Mrs. Mueller: Your brother!

Man: ♪ Saying you are gone ♪ Dora: Please!

Man: ♪ Gone to the lakes ♪ Mrs. Mueller: Out!

Get out!

Dora: Out where?

Man: ♪ Gone far from me ♪ ♪ Now to do as you please ♪ ♪ Leaving me ♪ [Dora screaming] Man: ♪ Walking down ♪ Boy: Stop it!

Mom!

Man: ♪ To the arms ♪ ♪ Of my town ♪ Mrs. Mueller: You whore!

Man: ♪ Ojibwe star ♪ ♪ Once we were one ♪ [Knocking on door] Dora: Mom!

Let me in!

Mom!

Man: ♪ Ojibwe star ♪ ♪ You're gone ♪ [Doorbell rings] ♪ Long gone ♪ Dora: Please let me get my stuff!

Man ♪ Our city lights ♪ [Knocking on door] ♪ Yellow and green ♪ ♪ Light the cold streets ♪ ♪ Where you and I have been ♪ Dora: Mom!

Man: ♪ Wiser than me ♪ ♪ To leave them behind ♪ ♪ Leaving me someday ♪ ♪ To make up my mind ♪ ♪ Where it is ♪ ♪ I belong ♪ [Bezhig crying] Man: ♪ How was it ♪ ♪ I went wrong ♪ ♪ Ojibwe star ♪ [Dora crying] Man: ♪ Once we were one ♪ [Crying] Man: ♪ Ojibwe star ♪ ♪ You're gone, long gone ♪ [Crying, phone ringing] [Sniffles] [Ring] -Hi.

-Hello.

This is Adele Halpern calling.

Hello?

Yes?

You're still in town?

Yes.

How long will you be here?

[Sniffles] I'm not sure.

I was just thinking.

If you were still here and you wanted to... sightsee, you should go to the Qu'Appelle Valley.

The scenery is absolutely gorgeous.

It's not to be missed.

Thank you.

Mrs. Halpern?

I recommend visiting Long Pine Reserve.

The views over the valley are just spectacular.

[Scribbling] Thank you, thank you.

I-- [Dial tone] [Hangs up phone] [Sighs] [Exhales slowly] [Exhaling echoes] [People coughing] Take all the time you need.

Man: Can you hear me, son?

Morris, talk to me, son.

Say something.

Dad?

I tried, Morris.

I tried.

And I'm so sorry.

[Kiss] [Woman whispering indistinctly] ["God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot" by Buffy Sainte-Marie playing] ♪ God is alive ♪ ♪ Magic is afoot ♪ ♪ God is alive ♪ ♪ Magic is afoot ♪ ♪ God is afoot ♪ ♪ Magic is alive ♪ ♪ Alive is afoot ♪ ♪ Magic never died ♪ ♪ God never sickened ♪ ♪ Many poor men lied ♪ ♪ Many sick men lied ♪ ♪ Magic never weakened ♪ ♪ Magic never hid ♪ ♪ Magic always ruled ♪ ♪ God is afoot ♪ ♪ God never died ♪ ♪ God was ruler ♪ ♪ Though his funeral lengthened ♪ ♪ Though his mourners thickened ♪ ♪ Magic never fled ♪ ♪ Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪ ♪ The naked God did live ♪ ♪ Though his words were twisted ♪ ♪ The naked Magic thrived ♪ ♪ Though his death was published ♪ ♪ Round and round the world ♪ ♪ The heart did not believe ♪ ♪ Many hurt men wondered ♪ ♪ Many struck men bled ♪ ♪ Magic never faltered ♪ ♪ Magic always led ♪ ♪ Many stones were rolled ♪ ♪ But God would not lie down ♪ ♪ Many wild men lied ♪ ♪ Many fat men listened ♪ ♪ Though they offered stones ♪ ♪ Magic still was fed ♪ ♪ Though they locked their coffers ♪ ♪ God was always served ♪ ♪ Magic is afoot ♪ ♪ God rules ♪ ♪ Alive is afoot ♪ ♪ Alive is in command ♪ ♪ Many weak men hungered ♪ ♪ Many strong men thrived ♪ ♪ Though they boasted solitude ♪ ♪ God was at their side ♪ ♪ Nor the dreamer in his cell ♪ ♪ Nor the captain on the hill ♪ ♪ Magic is alive ♪ ♪ Though his death was pardoned ♪ ♪ Round and round the world ♪ ♪ The heart did not believe ♪ ♪ Though laws were carved in marble ♪ ♪ They could not shelter men ♪ ♪ Though altars built in parliaments ♪ ♪ They could not order men ♪ ♪ Police arrested Magic ♪ ♪ And Magic went with them ♪ ♪ For Magic loves the hungry ♪ ♪ But Magic would not tarry ♪ ♪ It moves from arm to arm ♪ ♪ It would not stay with them ♪ ♪ Magic is afoot ♪ ♪ It cannot come to harm ♪ ♪ It rests in an empty palm ♪ ♪ It spawns in an empty mind ♪ ♪ But Magic is no instrument ♪ ♪ Magic is the end ♪ ♪ Many men drove Magic ♪ ♪ And Magic stayed behind ♪ ♪ Many strong men lied ♪ ♪ They only passed through Magic ♪ ♪ And out the other side ♪ ♪ Many weak men lied ♪ ♪ They came to God in secret ♪ ♪ And though they left him nourished ♪ ♪ They would not tell who healed ♪ ♪ Though mountains danced before them ♪ -Aah!

-♪ They said that God was dead ♪ ♪ Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪ [Scream echoes] ♪ The naked God did live ♪ ♪ This I mean to whisper to my mind ♪ ♪ This I mean to laugh with in my mind ♪ ♪ This I mean my mind to serve ♪ ♪ 'Til service is but Magic moving through the world ♪ ♪ And mind itself is Magic coursing through the flesh ♪ ♪ And flesh itself is Magic ♪ ♪ Dancing on a clock ♪ ♪ And time itself ♪ ♪ The magic length of God ♪ ♪ ♪ God is alive ♪ ♪ Magic is afoot ♪ ♪ God is alive ♪ ♪ Magic is afoot ♪ ♪ God is afoot, Magic is alive ♪ ♪ Alive is afoot ♪ ♪ Magic never died ♪ ♪ God never sickened ♪ ♪ Many poor men lied ♪ ♪ Many sick men lied ♪ ♪ Magic never weakened ♪ ♪ Magic never hid ♪ ♪ Magic always ruled ♪ ♪ God is afoot ♪ ♪ God never died ♪ ♪ God was ruler ♪ ♪ Though his funeral lengthened ♪ ♪ Though his mourners thickened ♪ ♪ Magic never fled ♪ ♪ Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪ ♪ The naked God did live ♪ ♪ Though his words were twisted ♪ ♪ The naked Magic thrived ♪ ♪