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Birth of a Family

Tasha Hubbard
2017 | 1 h 19 min
In this deeply moving feature-length documentary, three sisters and a brother meet for the first time. Removed from their young Dene mother during the infamous Sixties Scoop, they were separated as infants and adopted into families across North America.

Betty Ann, Esther, Rosalie, and Ben were only four of the 20,000 Indigenous Canadian children taken from their families between 1955 and 1985, to be either adopted into white families or live in foster care. As the four siblings piece together their shared history, their connection deepens, and their family begins to take shape.

Awards and distinctions

  • Kathleen Shannon Award
    Yorkton Film Festival, Yorkton
    2018
  • Student Prize
    Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montréal, Montréal
    2017
  • People's Choice Award
    Zonta Film Festival, Waterloo
    2017
  • Special Jury Prize - Moon Jury
    Imagine Native Film + Media Arts Festival, Toronto
    2017
  • Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
    International Film Festival, Edmonton
    2017