Join us at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, November 20 for a special International Children's Day screening (and Vancouver Theatrical Premiere!) of the documentary FOR LOVE. Filmmakers, including producer/director Matt Smiley and writer producer Mary Teegee, the team behind 2015's HIGHWAY OF TEARS, and renowned social activist or child welfare and executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, Cindy Blackstock, will be participating in a live Q&A following the film.

FOR LOVE is a film of resilience and resurgence. Colonization has led to many adverse impacts on the Indigenous population of Canada - most significantly on familial and societal structures. Due to colonial regimes, Indigenous children are vastly overrepresented in the child welfare system. In 2018, the Minister of Indigenous Affairs deemed the issue “a humanitarian crisis.”

Travelling across the country, Indigenous people tell their heartbreaking stories to reveal the atrocities inflicted by the Canadian child welfare system. The film shines a light on what is happening right now. It details the horrors of the past and reveals how Indigenous communities are taking back jurisdictional control of their children in order to ensure that their unique and diverse cultures are preserved for generations to come.

Awakening a revived respect for the matriarchal system, we learn about the need to preserve traditional practices, land-based activities and grass roots initiatives in order to keep having a positive impact on children and families - not only reducing the number of apprehensions, but also renewing Indigenous pride.

Narrated by Shania Twain.

Saturday, November 20
Doors 2:00 pm | Movie 2:30 pm (Followed by Q&A) *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.
Advance tickets $15 | $15 at the door

Partial proceeds from this event to benefit the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society's pre-schools.

"This film is for all the children who did not come home from residential school and all the survivors who are living with the hurt & trauma.

This film is for the parents and grandparents who lived and live with broken hearts at the loss of their child to the welfare system or succumbed to the impacts of colonization.

This film is for all the caregivers, advocates, clans, families and dedicated staff who work tirelessly and compassionately to better the lives of children and families.

This film is for all our Ancestors, Elders, knowledge keepers, cultural teachers, language speakers, Hereditary Chiefs and Matriarchs who have kept our culture and language alive through generations of cultural genocide.

This film is for all those watching and who are committed to work with us to right the wrongs of the past. Most importantly, this film is for all our Indigenous children still in government care.

This film is for you, for hope…for love." - Mary Teegee