Bones of Crows (Behind the Scenes)
Lead character Aline Spears (left) and her mom walking through the prairies in movie Bones of Crows.
The Bones of Crows movie about siblings plunged into a fight for survival after being forced into residential school was filmed in British Columbia, including at the site of the former Kamloops Residential School in Tk'emlúps territory. Its large Indigenous cast and crew was pivotal to the production and success of this epic feature.
Learn more about the film at www.bonesofcrows.com.
Production on Bones of Crows began in 2021 with more than 60 cast members who represented 5 generations of Indigenous performers and over 50 Indigenous crew members working behind the scenes.
Photo credit: Farah Nosh for Elevation Pictures
"This is a (once) in a lifetime film. It's not something that could have happened even 5 years ago, but we also understood the responsibility."
Marie Clements, award-winning Métis/Dene writer, director, and producer
Photo credit: Farah Nosh for Elevation Pictures
The Indigenous cast and crew united to tell an impactful story that represents both Canada's history and their shared history.
Photo credit: Farah Nosh for Elevation Pictures
Cast and crew alike felt a personal duty to tell the truth about what happened in residential schools.
Photo credit: Farah Nosh for Elevation Pictures
"This film will forever be one of my proudest moments. Being able to bring light to what my ancestors and family went through has been one of the most important things I have had the chance to do. I cannot thank the producers enough who believed in me and brought me onto this project. Alongside my mentor, Darci Jackson, it has paved the way for more opportunities in film that I might not have gotten without this. My hope moving forward is that this film opens the eyes of people who might not have known the history of us and make them realize that it's still happening."
Elizabeth McLeod (with blue hair), makeup artist
Photo credit: Elizabeth McLeod
Bones of Crows is the first Indigenous and female-led production about the residential school experience in North America.
Photo credit: Farah Nosh for Elevation Pictures
"As an actor, it was a dream [working on this film], but as a human it was very hard and I had to take months to recover and heal myself. But it touches on the [pain] we have felt as Indigenous people so it was doing my duty."
Grace Doyle, who stars as Aline Spears
Photo credit: Farah Nosh for Elevation Pictures
"What an honour to work on this production. Marie Clements [is] an incredible storyteller on the survivors of residential schools. An epic tale of Indigenous resilience … Working on this show sometimes I had to step away from set to get my bearings. The content was incredibly moving. The strength of Indigenous women at the end of the film was powerful. I am a proud Indigenous woman and thankful my work will be showcased for generations to come. Let the healing begin. Hiy Hiy."
Charlene Dunn, hair stylist
Photo credit: Charlene Dunn
Marie Clements said every cast and crew member of Bones of Crows has a family member who experienced residential schools which in her words, "unified us".
Photo credit: Farah Nosh for Elevation Pictures
Marie Clements guiding Summer Testawich, who plays the young Aline Spears.
Photo credit: Farah Nosh for Elevation Pictures