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Free screening part of national tour, with Q&A led by Elder Ross, a Survivor of the Indian residential school system

An indigenous woman is in a canoe on a lake with an orange life jacket. She seems at serene. Partially obscured.

Photo: Eppo Eerkes, @eppodirects

Winnipeg - April 8, 2025 –

As a young girl, Elder Betty Ross was abandoned, adopted, and then kidnapped and taken to St. Joseph’s residential school at just eight years old. As a girl from Pimicikamak Cree Nation (also known as Cross Lake First Nation), Ross held the sacred teachings of her father like a torch to survive the Indian residential school system.

Elder Ross will lead a free screening of a docudrama about her life at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) on April 16 as part of an ongoing nation‐wide tour taking her from coast to coast to coast. 

In this film, you will experience her journey of survival. Cinematic reenactments bring to life unimaginable hardships and euphoric moments of freedom, interwoven with present‐day footage of Elder Ross as she returns to the falls of her childhood for the first time in more than 70 years.

“There is an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that washes over me as I make my way down the riverbank…. These sacred waters are my beacon of strength, resilience, and determination. They are the reason I survived the residential school. Now is the time. The time for me to share my story with all nations as I make my return to the falls.” – Elder Betty Ross in Return to the Falls.

Following the film, Elder Betty Ross will engage in a Q&A with the audience.

Elder Betty Ross is available for pre‐scheduled interviews on April 8, 9, 10 with at least one day’s notice via media contact listed.

What: Return to the Falls: film screening and conversation

When: Wednesday, April 16, 2025

5:30 p.m. – Doors open

6 p.m. – Opening reception

6:30–8:30 p.m. – Program and film screening

8:30–9 p.m. – Closing reception

Where: Bonnie & John Buhler Hall, Level 1, Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Tickets: Free with registration

The CMHR is honoured to bring this free public screening to audiences in Treaty 1 Territory in partnership with Black Badge Studios, Norway House Cree Nation, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) with the generous financial support of WestJet.

A poster with a girl in a white dress in the water at dusk. The poster reads "an evening with elder betty ross, a residential school survivor and screening of return to the falls film all community members welcome to attend. This free public screening is presented by black badge Studios, cross lake first nation, Norway House Cree Nation and the National Centre for truth and Reconciliation with support from west jet and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights."

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