CBC Global Header Navigation

 
CBCradio

Friday June 3, 2011

 
Bookmark and Share
 
   
 

The Sweat Lodge (Documentary)

Our documentary today takes you to the village of Oujé Bougamou in Northern Quebec. People across the north are still struggling to recover from the religious residential school experience. Some blame the schools for the loss of aboriginal tradition and culture. They believe the way to move forward is by going back to the old ways. But others have embraced the Christian faith. We'll tell you why an ancient Cree tradition has stirred so much controversy in Oujé Bougamou.

Listen: (Pop-up)

Part Two of The Current

Sweat Lodge Documentary

This month, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada will hold a national event in Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. It's one of seven events the Commission says it will hold across the country. Their goal is "to promote awareness and public education" about the Indian residential school system and its impacts.

The hearings invite former students to share their personal stories and feelings. The Commission will then compile those stories in a historical account of the religious residential school experience. Many who went through that system blame it for the loss of aboriginal tradition and culture. But there are those who have embraced the Christian faith - and see it as the way of the future.

Today, on The Current, we have a story about how that new faith is bumping up against tradition. It's happening in the James Bay Cree village called Oujé Bougamu, Quebec. CBC North's Janna Graham brings us the story in her documentary The Sweat Lodge.


Other segments from today's show:

  • Commenting has been disabled for this entry.