(MUSIC PLAYS)

Kyla and E.B. hang in the basement.

Kyla is in her mid-teens, with long slightly wavy brown hair. She wears jeans, a printed top and a coral hoodie.

E.B. is in his mid-teens with curly brown hair in an afro and he wears jeans, a striped yellow and gray T-shirt and an unbuttoned blue shirt.

Kyla says HEY, E.B. DON'T FORGET.
I REALLY NEED MY EARBUDS
BACK FROM YOU.

E.B. says KYLA, I ALREADY GAVE
THEM BACK TO YOU YESTERDAY.

I'M PRETTY SURE YOU DIDN'T.

E.B. says I'M TOTALLY SURE I DID.
I ALWAYS GIVE BACK THINGS
I BORROW. YOU KNOW WHAT?
RIGHT NOW I JUST WANNA OPEN...
THIS MYSTERY FILE: NOSTRA CULPA.

He opens a desk drawer.

Kyla says I WONDER
WHAT LANGUAGE THAT IS.
UM... SAYS HERE IT'S LATIN.
AND IT MEANS "OUR FAULT."
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE PROBABLY
WASN'T TALKING ABOUT US.

E.B. grabs Aunt Hermione’s notebook and says LET'S SEE. NOPE.
NO NOTES IN HER BOOK. BUT SHE
DID LEAVE CLUES, AS ALWAYS.

Kyla says THREE REALLY OLD PICTURES.

E.B. grabs a certificate and says DOMINION OF CANADA.
IMMIGRATION BRANCH. ARLENE CHAN.
AND IT HAS THE NUMBER 500
ON THE BACK.

Kyla says MAYBE IT WAS
THIS PERSON'S FAULT.

E.B. looks her up on the internet and says ARLENE CHAN. HEY!
SHE HAS A WEBSITE, AND
SHE WRITES ABOUT CHINESE
IMMIGRATION. I'LL LOOK HER UP.

Kyla says THIS PIC LOOKS SUPER-
OLD.

She flips the picture over and says HARNAM SINGH. AND LOOK:
THERE'S A NUMBER ON THE BACK.

E.B. says OH YEAH.

Kyla says I'LL LOOK INTO IT.

E.B. says AND THEN WE HAVE MOHAWK
INSTITUTE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL.

Kyla says SPOOKY LOOKING BUILDING.
LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE HAUNTED.

E.B. says HEY, LOOK: THERE'S A PICTURE
OF SOMEONE ATTACHED TO IT.

Kyla says MAYBE IT'S A PICTURE OF A
GHOST FROM THE HAUNTED BUILDING.

E.B. says OH, COME ON! GHOSTS DON'T SHOW
UP IN PICTURES. OR DO THEY?

Kyla says ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND
OUT. LET'S INVESTIGATE.

E.B. says IT'S ON!

They high-five.

Music plays as the opening of the show rolls.

A song goes HISTORY IS FULL OF MYSTERIES
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
COULD BE HEARD TO SAY

Aunt Hermione stands next to a knight’s armour. She’s in her fifties, with short white hair and wears glasses, beige trousers, a belted white short-sleeved shirt, an explorer’s hat. She carries a cross-body bag.

The song goes YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT CAME BEFORE
TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD TODAY

Clips show images of power lines, an abacus and a computer.

The song continues SHE WAS GOING TO WRITE A BOOK
CALLED "MYSTERY FILES."
TO TELL WHAT SHE UNCOVERED
BUT TIME RAN OUT
NEW ADVENTURES CAME FIRST
SO SHE LEFT HER SECRETS
UNDISCOVERED

She writes down notes on a notebook, holds a globe, travels by jeep, flies an airplane.

The song continues ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND
WAS A HOUSE FULL OF CLUES
BUT E.B. AND KYLA HAVE A PLAN

In the basement, a drawer in a chest opens and random objects come out.

The song continues THEY'RE GONNA SOLVE
EACH MYSTERY FILE
AND FINISH
WHAT HERMIONE BEGAN
THEY'LL SOLVE

E.B. and Kyla appear looking through Hermione’s notes.

The song continues THE MYSTERY FILES
UNRAVEL ALL THE MYSTERIES
THEY'LL SOLVE
THE MYSTERY FILES
UPLOAD HIDDEN HISTORIES
THEY'LL SOLVE
THE MYSTERY FILES

E.B. and Kyla high-five.

The title of the show reads "The Mystery Files."

(music plays)

Walking down the streets of Chinatown, E.B. records a video and says I'VE SET UP A MEETING
WITH ARLENE CHAN HERE IN
CHINATOWN. SO, HOPEFULLY, SHE'LL
HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHY HERMIONE
PUT THIS IN HER MYSTERY FILE.
HI, ARLENE.

Arlene is in her sixties, with shoulder-length straight brown hair and she wears black trousers, a yellow scarf and a burgundy sweater.

Arlene says HEY. HOW ARE YOU?

E.B. says GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M E.B. NICE TO MEET YOU.

Arlene says NICE TO MEET YOU.

E.B. says WE HAVE THIS MYSTERY
HERE THAT I'M TRYING TO SOLVE.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS?

Arlene says I CERTAINLY DO.
THAT'S A PICTURE OF MY FATHER
WHEN HE WAS JUST A YOUNG BOY.

E.B. says OH, WOW.

Arlene says YES.

E.B. says WELL, THIS PAPER HERE
SAYS "IMMIGRATION BRANCH,"
AND ALSO THE 500 ON THE BACK.
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

Arlene says IT'S CALLED A HEAD TAX
CERTIFICATE. SO, ALL IMMIGRANTS
WHO CAME FROM CHINA, IT DIDN'T
MATTER OF YOU WERE AN ADULT
OR YOU WERE A CHILD, YOU HAD
TO GET ISSUED THIS HEAD TAX
CERTIFICATE. AND THAT 500 DOLLARS ON
THE BACK WAS HOW MUCH YOU HAD
TO PAY TO COME INTO CANADA.

E.B. says THAT WAS A HUGE AMOUNT
OF MONEY BACK IN 1921. ARLENE
TOLD ME THAT BACK THEN YOU COULD
HAVE BOUGHT TWO HOMES WITH THAT.
SHE SAYS THAT LOTS OF CHINESE
IMMIGRANTS WERE SO DESPERATE
TO FIND A BETTER LIFE IN CANADA
THAT THEY DID WHATEVER THEY
COULD TO SCRAPE TOGETHER THE
MONEY TO PAY FOR THE HEAD TAX.

(E.B.'S PHONE RINGS.)

Kyla video calls E.B.

Kyla says HEY.

E.B. says HEY, KYLA.

A series of black and white pictures of Chinese immigrants appear.

Kyla says SO I DID SOME DIGGING
AROUND ON CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
I FOUND OUT THAT THE CHINESE
STARTED COMING TO CANADA
OVER 150 YEARS AGO TO ESCAPE
POVERTY AND WAR IN CHINA.
IN CANADA, THEY STARTED PANNING
FOR GOLD, AND THEY ALSO GOT WORK
BUILDING ROADS AND FARMING.
THEN, ABOUT 20 YEARS LATER,
THE NEXT GROUP OF CHINESE
IMMIGRANTS GOT HERE.
THEY WERE BROUGHT FROM CHINA TO
HELP BUILD THE CANADIAN PACIFIC
RAILWAY, BUT THERE WAS LOTS
OF PREJUDICE AT THE TIME.
THE CHINESE WERE GIVEN
THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS,
LIKE WORKING WITH EXPLOSIVES
AND CARRYING MASSIVE ROCKS.
THEY WERE PAID ABOUT A DOLLAR
A DAY, HALF THE AMOUNT ALL
THE OTHER PEOPLE WERE PAID.
AND THE CHINESE WERE
THE ONLY ONES WHO HAD TO PAY
FOR THEIR OWN FOOD, CLOTHES,
AND TRANSPORTATION
TO THEIR JOB SITE.

E.B. says HUH. THAT'S REALLY UNFAIR.
THANKS FOR THE INFO, KYLA.

Kyla says SEE YA.

E.B. and Arlene enter a Chinese restaurant.

E.B. says THANK YOU.

Arlene holds the door for him.

They sit at a table.

E.B. says LOOKS SO GOOD.

Arlene says AMAZING.

E.B. says THANK YOU.

Arlene says THERE YOU GO. SO,
AFTER THE RAILWAY WAS FINISHED,
WELL THE CANADIANS AND THE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT THEY DIDN'T
WANT ANY MORE CHINESE COMING IN,
BECAUSE THOUSANDS HAD COME IN
TO HELP BUILD THAT RAILWAY.
THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF JOBS.

E.B. says OKAY.

Arlene says AND SO THERE WAS
THIS FEELING THAT THE CHINESE...
THERE WERE TOO MANY, THAT
THEY WOULD TAKE AWAY JOBS
FROM CANADIANS.
SO THEN THE GOVERNMENT STARTED
INTRODUCING THESE RESTRICTIONS
ON IMMIGRATION.

E.B. says LIKE THE HEAD TAX RESTRICTION.

Arlene says EXACTLY.
SO IT STARTED OFF AT 50 DOLLARS, AND
STILL CHINESE KEPT COMING.
SO THEN IT BECAME 500 DOLLARS.

E.B. says BUT YOUR DAD STILL
PUSHED THROUGH THAT PREJUDICE,
AND HE STUCK WITH IT.
BUT HOW DID HE MANAGE HERE?

Arlene says WELL, I MEAN, THAT WAS
THE THING ABOUT ALL THE EARLY
CHINESE WHO CAME HERE, DESPITE
ALL THAT KIND OF DISCRIMINATION
AND HARDSHIP, THEY PERSEVERED.
MY FATHER STARTED A GROCERY
STORE. AND THEN EVENTUALLY,
AFTER HE GOT MARRIED TO MY MOM,
THEY OPENED THIS RESTAURANT
HERE. AT THIS VERY SPOT.

E.B. says THIS...

Arlene says YEAH. AT THIS
VERY RESTAURANT. YEP.

E.B. says NO WAY. SO WHAT DID...
WHAT DID YOU...
DID YOU HAVE TO WORK HERE?

Arlene says YEP.
THERE WERE SIX KIDS IN MY
FAMILY, AND WE ALL HAD TO TAKE
TURNS HELPING OUT AND WORKING
AT THIS RESTAURANT HERE. YEAH.

E.B. says THAT IS COOL.
(CHINESE MUSIC)

They take a walk outside.

E.B. says SO IN PLACES LIKE CHINATOWN,
THE CHINESE IMMIGRANTS COULD
STICK TOGETHER AND ESCAPE
THE RACISM OF THAT DAY.

Arlene says THAT'S RIGHT.
(E.B.'S PHONE RINGS.)

E.B. says OH.
HEY, KYLA. WHATCHA GOT?

Kyla says I KEPT DIGGING, AND
I FOUND OUT THAT THE HEAD TAX
WASN'T ENOUGH TO STOP CHINESE
IMMIGRATION, AS MUCH AS
THE GOVERNMENT WANTED.

E.B. says OH, OKAY.

Kyla says SO, IN 1923 THE
GOVERNMENT PASSED ANOTHER LAW.
IT BASICALLY COMPLETELY BANNED
THE CHINESE FROM IMMIGRATING TO
CANADA. AND THE ONES WHO WERE
ALREADY IN CANADA WERE TOTALLY
CUT OFF FROM THEIR FAMILIES,
BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BRING
THEIR FAMILIES OVER.

E.B. says AND HOW LONG DID THAT LAST?

Kyla says IT WENT ON FOR ALMOST
25 YEARS. I FOUND OUT THAT
IMMIGRATION FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
WAS ALSO CONTROLLED IN SOME WAY,
BUT ONLY THE CHINESE WERE
BANNED IN THIS WAY.

E.B. says JUST BECAUSE OF
THEIR RACE. THAT'S SO WRONG.
GOOD RESEARCH, KYLA.

Kyla says THANKS.

The call ends.

E.B. says IT MUST HAVE TAKEN SOME
GUTS TO HANG IN THERE WITH ALL
THE RACISM AND RESTRICTIONS,
BUT HERMIONE'S FILE LABEL SAYS,
"NOSTRA CULPA," WHICH WE FOUND
OUT MEANS "OUR FAULT" IN LATIN.
WHOSE FAULT DO YOU THINK
SHE MEANT?

Kyla says WELL, IT TOOK A WHILE,
BUT AFTER THE END OF THE CHINESE
EXCLUSION ACT, EVENTUALLY
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
APOLOGIZED IN 2006.

E.B. says OH, REALLY?
OH, YEAH. HERE IT IS.

He plays a clip on his phone.

Stephen Harper says ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF CANADA,
WE OFFER A FULL APOLOGY TO
CHINESE CANADIANS FOR THE HEAD
TAX AND EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST
SORROW FOR THE SUBSEQUENT
EXCLUSION OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS.
GAR NAR DAI DOE HEEM.
("CANADA APOLOGIZES.")

E.B. says DID THE APOLOGY HELP?

Arlene says WELL, SADLY MY FATHER
HAD ALREADY PASSED AWAY,
BUT FOR THE HEAD TAX SURVIVORS
AND THEIR FAMILIES, IT WAS
A REALLY HISTORIC DAY FOR THEM.
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THE REALLY
GOOD THING IS THAT SO MANY
PEOPLE NOW HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF THE HEAD TAX AND THE
CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT. AND THEY
KNOW NOW ABOUT THE SUFFERING OF
THE EARLY CHINESE IN THE CITY.

E.B. says RIGHT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
KNOW THE HISTORY. I COMPLETELY
AGREE. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
ARLENE. YOU'VE BEEN A HUGE HELP
IN SOLVING THIS MYSTERY.

Arlene says THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

(E.B.'S PHONE RINGS.)

Kyla says HI, E.B.

E.B. says HEY, KYLA.

Kyla says I FOUND THE PERSON
AT THE PHONE NUMBER WRITTEN
ON THE BACK OF THE PICTURE.

E.B. says COOL.

Kyla says I I'M ABOUT TO DO A VIDEO CHAT
WITH HER. I'LL SEE IF IT HAS
ANYTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION.

E.B. says GOOD LUCK.
AND I'LL LOOK UP THE LOCATION
OF THE LAST CLUE, THE SCHOOL.

In the basement, Kyle video chats with Sukhi and says CATCHA LATER.
HI, SUKHI. THANKS FOR AGREEING
TO TALK WITH ME.

Sukhi says HI, KYLA.
IT'S NICE TO TALK TO YOU TOO.

Sukhi is in her thirties, with long slightly wavy brown hair and she wears a blue sweater and a white necklace.

Kyla says I HAVE THIS PHOTO AS A
CLUE FOR A MYSTERY I'M TRYING TO
SOLVE. THE NAME IS HARNAM SINGH.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS?

She shows her a black and white picture of an old man with a thick bear wearing a turban, pale trousers and a white thobe.

Sukhi says THAT'S MY GREAT GRANDFATHER.

Kyla says HMM... I WONDER WHY HE
WAS IN HER FILE. DID YOUR GREAT
GRANDFATHER IMMIGRATE TO CANADA
BY ANY CHANCE?

Sukhi says NO. HE TRIED TO IN
1914, BUT HE WASN'T ABLE TO.

Kyla says HOW COME?

Sukhi says HE CAME ABOARD
THE KOMAGATA MARU, A SHIP
WITH 375 PASSENGERS,
AND THEY CAME TO THE VANCOUVER
HARBOUR, RIGHT HERE IN CANADA,
BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO LEAVE
THE SHIP. AND AFTER TWO LONG
MONTHS, THEY WERE FORCED BACK.
AND MANY OF THOSE PASSENGERS
DIED, BUT MY GREAT
GRANDFATHER SURVIVED.

Kyla says SO, WHY DIDN'T
THE GOVERNMENT LET THEM IN?

Sukhi says THEY WERE TRYING TO STOP
INDIAN IMMIGRATION TO CANADA.

Kyla says THAT SOUNDS RACIST.

Sukhi says IT WAS. THEY ONLY
WANTED WHITE IMMIGRANTS TO COME
INTO CANADA, SO THEY PREFERRED
PEOPLE FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.
AND THEY WERE REALLY PREVENTING
PEOPLE FROM INDIA OR OTHER
COUNTRIES FROM ENTERING CANADA.

Kyla says THAT'S KIND OF LIKE
THE RACIST LAWS CHINESE
IMMIGRANTS HAD TO FACE.

Sukhi says YES, IT'S VERY SIMILAR.

Kyla says GREAT AUNT HERMIONE'S
FILE LABEL IS "NOSTRA CULPA,"
"OUR FAULT" IN LATIN. THE
RACIST LAWS THAT KEPT YOUR GREAT
GRANDPA FROM ENTERING CANADA
WERE MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT,
SO HERMIONE MUST HAVE MEANT
IT WAS THEIR FAULT.

Sukhi says YES. AND, YOU KNOW,
THE GOVERNMENT BACK THEN
WAS VERY DIFFERENT. TODAY'S
GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY DID AN
OFFICIAL APOLOGY. AND I WAS
PRESENT TO WITNESS THAT APOLOGY.

Kyla says OH. LET ME CHECK THAT OUT.

She looks for the apology on the internet and plays the clip.

Justin Trudeau says TODAY I RISE IN
THIS HOUSE TO OFFER AN APOLOGY
ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF CANADA FOR OUR ROLE IN
THE KOMAGATA MARU INCIDENT.

Kyla says DID THE APOLOGY HELP?

Sukhi says YOU KNOW, IT WAS
VERY EMOTIONAL TO BE PRESENT
TO WITNESS THAT APOLOGY.
AND I'M GLAD I WAS THERE.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONE STEP
CLOSER TO HEALING, I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE DON'T FORGET THE PAST.

Kyla says I TOTALLY AGREE.
THANKS, SUKHI. I THINK WE'RE
ONTO SOMETHING WITH OUR MYSTERY.

Sukhi says BY, KYLA.

E.B. walks in.

Kyla says HEY, E.B. I JUST FOUND
OUT ALL ABOUT THE KOMAGATA MARU.
IT WAS A BOAT FULL OF PUNJABI
IMMIGRANTS WHO WERE TURNED AWAY
AND NOT ALLOWED INTO CANADA,
BECAUSE OF RACISM.

E.B. says OKAY, OKAY. I THINK
WE'RE ONTO SOMETHING. AND...

Kyla says ME TOO. DID YOU NOTICE
THAT OUR CLUES SO FAR HAVE
SOMETHING TO DO WITH GOVERNMENTS
MAKING RACIST LAWS?

E. B. says YEAH, AND THEN APOLOGIZING FOR
THEM. I DID SOME DIGGING, AND
IT TURNS OUT LOTS OF GOVERNMENTS
AROUND THE WORLD DID
THE SAME THING. CHECK IT OUT.

E. B. plays a clip on the computer.

E. B. says APOLOGIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
IN 1990, EAST GERMANY APOLOGIZED
TO ISRAEL AND ALL JEWISH PEOPLE
FOR THE NAZI HOLOCAUST THAT
HAPPENED 50 YEARS BEFORE DURING
WORLD WAR 2. SIX MILLION JEWISH
PEOPLE WERE KILLED DURING THE
HOLOCAUST JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR
RELIGION.

An animated map shows the location of East Germany.

Pictures of the Holocaust appear.

E. B. says AND IN SOUTH AFRICA,
IN 1992, THE PRESIDENT THERE
OFFICIALLY APOLOGIZED FOR
APARTHEID.

Pictures show segregation signs.

E. B. says IT WAS A BUNCH OF
LAWS THAT FORCED WHITE PEOPLE
AND BLACK PEOPLE TO LIVE AND
WORK APART FROM EACH OTHER.
IT LASTED 42 YEARS. AND IN THE
UNITED STATES, THE GOVERNMENT
MADE A BIG APOLOGY IN 2008. THEY
APOLOGIZED TO AFRICAN AMERICANS
FOR SLAVERY AND FOR THE LAWS
LATER ON THAT DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE. E.B.
REPORTING FOR
THE MYSTERY FILES.

The clip ends.

Kyla says WOW. THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE PAST.

E.B. says SOME REALLY BAD STUFF.

Kyla says SO WHAT DID YOU
FIND OUT ABOUT THAT LAST CLUE,
THE SPOOKY LOOKING BUILDING?

E.B. says OOH. IT'S SOMETHING
CALLED A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL.
I FOUND THE ADDRESS, SO
I'M HEADING OVER THERE NOW.

Kyla says COOL. HOPE YOU DON'T
GET SCARED OF ANY GHOSTS
WHILE YOU'RE THERE.

E.B. says ME? SCARED? NO WAY.

Kyla says OH, AND ALSO, PLEASE
DON'T FORGET, I REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
WANT MY EARBUDS BACK.

E.B. says KYLA! I ALREADY
GAVE THEM BACK.

(SPOOKY MUSIC PLAYS)

E. B. says HERE I AM AT THE MOHAWK
INSTITUTE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL.
IT LOOKS A LOT LESS SPOOKY
IN PERSON THAN IN THE PICTURE.

(E.B.'S PHONE RINGS.)

The ring startles him.

He jumps and says KYLA! I'M AT THE SCHOOL.

Kyla says YOU SOUND JUMPY.
MAYBE... KINDA SCARED?

E.B. says I'M JUST ANXIOUS
TO WRAP UP THIS MYSTERY.
BESIDES, I LOVE GHOSTS.

Kyla says OKAY. BUT IF THIS SCHOOL
HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH
DISCRIMINATION OR GOVERNMENT
APOLOGIES, WE'LL HAVE OUR
MYSTERY SOLVED. GOOD LUCK.

E.B. says COOL.

He climbs up the entry stairs and opens the door.

(DOOR CREAKS.)

Geronimo says E.B., COME ON OVER.

E.B. says HEY, GERONIMO. HOW ARE YOU?

Geronimo says GOOD.

Geronimo is in his sixties, clean-shaven and with short wavy gray hair. He wears glasses, white trousers and a blue shirt.

E.B. says GOOD.
SO FAR, NO GHOSTS IN SIGHT.

Geronimo says BUT ACTUALLY, THERE ARE
SOME GHOSTS HERE.
FROM ALL THE KIDS
THAT USED TO BE IN HERE,
THEIR SPIRITS ARE STILL HERE.

E.B. says REALLY? AT THIS SCHOOL?

Geronimo says YEP.

E.B. says SO, GERONIMO,
THE SCHOOL'S CLOSED,
AND NOW IT'S A MUSEUM.
AND YOU'RE A GUIDE, RIGHT?

Geronimo says YEP.

Images of abandoned rooms appear.

E.B. says WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

Geronimo says THE SCHOOL WOULD TAKE NATIVE
CHILDREN, ALL YEAR ROUND, TO
ASSIMILATE THEM. SO YOU CANNOT
TALK YOUR LANGUAGE OR YOUR
CULTURE, OR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH YOUR CEREMONIES OR BELIEFS.

Pictures of groups of students appear.

E.B. says WHY WEREN'T KIDS
ALLOWED TO SPEAK THEIR
FIRST NATIONS LANGUAGES?

Geronimo says WELL, THAT WAS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POLICY
TO ASSIMILATE THESE NATIVE KIDS
INTO WHITE-DOMINANT SOCIETY.

E.B. says SO IT'S LIKE BRAINWASHING.

Geronimo says YEAH. TAKE THE
INDIAN OUT OF THE CHILD.
(E.B.'S PHONE RINGS.)

Kyla says HI, E.B.

E.B. says HEY, KYLA. I THINK
THERE'S ALREADY A GOVERNMENT
CONNECTION HERE.

Kyla plays a clip on the computer.

Kyla says THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I FOUND OUT TOO.
AND DISCRIMINATION.
THERE USED TO BE PLACES
CALLED RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
ALL ACROSS CANADA.
THE ONE YOU'RE AT RIGHT NOW
WAS THE FIRST ONE EVER.
IT OPENED IN 1831,
ALMOST 200 YEARS AGO.
THE SCHOOLS WERE RUN BY
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CHURCH.
FIRST NATIONS KIDS WERE TAKEN
AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES
AND PUT INTO THESE SCHOOLS,
SOMETIMES REALLY FAR FROM HOME.
KIDS WERE TREATED REALLY BADLY
AND PUNISHED, ESPECIALLY IF
THEY SPOKE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

The clip shows a boy in his native clothes and then a picture of the same boy in a uniform.

E.B. says IMAGINE TRYING
TO WIPE OUT WHO YOU ARE.

Kyla says I CAN'T EVEN. AND THE
SCHOOLS CONTINUED UNTIL 1996,
ONLY 20 YEARS AGO.

E.B. says WOW. THAT'S NOT A LONG TIME
AGO. THANKS FOR THE INFO, KYLA.
SO WHAT'S THIS ROOM?

They enter a large lunchroom.

Geronimo says WELL, THIS IS WHERE
WE ATE ALL OUR MEALS HERE. AND
THIS IS WHERE THEY'D COOK THIS
OATMEAL, AND LIKE OVERCOOK IT,
SO IT JUST TURNED INTO A MUSH.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S HOW
THE SCHOOL GOT ITS NAME,
LIKE, THE "MUSH-HOLE."
(E.B. LAUGHS.)
BUT I GUESS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FIGURED THAT WAS
THE CHEAPEST CEREAL, I SUPPOSE,
TO GIVE TO THESE NATIVE KIDS.
IMAGINE THAT FOR LIKE TEN YEARS,
YEAH. SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

E.B. says I DON'T THINK I COULD EVEN EAT
THE SAME CEREAL EVERY DAY.
(GERONIMO LAUGHS.)
Geronimo says YEAH.
SO THIS WAS A PLAYROOM
RIGHT HERE.

E.B. says THIS LOOKS LIKE A PRISON.

Geronimo says YEAH, THAT'S ALL
THEY'D GIVE US, YOU KNOW.

E.B. says THIS IS SO SAD.
AND THOSE SHOWERS?

Geronimo says THAT WAS
OUR SHOWERS, YEAH.

E.B. says THOSE LOOK LIKE
PRISON SHOWERS.

E.B. takes out a photo of a man and says WELL, SINCE YOU'RE A TOUR GUIDE
HERE, THIS IS ONE OF THE CLUES
TO OUR MYSTERY. DO YOU HAVE
ANY IDEA WHO THIS IS?

Geronimo says YEAH, THAT'S ME WHEN
I WAS AT THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL,
SO ACTUALLY I WAS HERE
FOR TEN YEARS.
AS YOU CAN SEE BY
THAT PICTURE, I HAD
THIS SCARF AROUND MY NECK...

E.B. says UH-HUH.

Geronimo says ...LIKE COWBOYS.

E.B. says YEAH.

Geronimo says I WANTED TO BE A COWBOY,
INSTEAD OF BEING LIKE AN INDIAN.
SO THEY WERE ASSIMILATING US.
EVERYBODY HAD A NUMBER HERE.
SO MY NUMBER WAS 48. I GOT MINE
ACTUALLY TATTOOED. THEY WOULDN'T
EVEN CALL YOU BY YOUR NAME.
THE SUPERVISOR WOULD COME
DOWN HERE, AND HE WOULD...

E.B. says SAY, "NUMBER 48." LET'S GO.

Geronimo says YEAH.

E.B. says OH, WOW.

YEAH. SAY, "NUMBER 48? 36?"
THAT'S ME AND MY BROTHER.
THEY'D SAY, "25." THAT WAS
TOMMY THOMPSON, YOU KNOW.

E.B. says I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE
THAT THEY TURNED YOU GUYS INTO
NUMBERS, THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN
GET TO KEEP YOUR NAME. THEY TOOK
YOUR CHILDHOOD AWAY FROM YOU.

Geronimo says YES.

E.B. says WOW.

Outside the building, Geronimo says THIS IS THE WALL HERE WHERE
A LOT OF KIDS CARVED THEIR NAMES
IN THE BRICKS HERE. SO I HAD A
NICKNAME. SO MY NAME WAS "FISH."

E.B. says FISH.

Geronimo says SO I WAS KNOWN
BY THAT AT THE MUSH-HOLE.

OH, WOW. THERE'S SOME REALLY
SAD STUFF WRITTEN. LOOK: "HELP!"

Geronimo says YEAH. AND THEY'D
CARVE THEIR NAMES IN THERE,
AND THEY'D BE LIKE CRYING,
PROBABLY THINKING ABOUT THEIR
MOM OR DAD OR WHAT, YOU KNOW?

E.B. says IS THAT WHY YOU SAID
THERE REALLY ARE LIKE GHOSTS
IN THAT BUILDING?

Geronimo says YEAH, THERE'S
A LOT OF SPIRITS. I LIKE
TO CALL THEM SPIRITS.

E.B. says KIND OF LIKE THE SPIRITS
OF STOLEN CHILDHOODS, MAYBE?

Geronimo says YEAH.

E.B. says YEAH.

Geronimo says PROBABLY LIKE
THEY STOLE MY CHILDHOOD.

E.B. says RIGHT.

Geronimo says AND I SPENT TEN YEARS IN HERE,
MY WHOLE CHILDHOOD IN HERE.

E.B. says NOW, SINCE THE GOVERNMENT RAN
THESE SCHOOLS, WAS THERE EVER
AN APOLOGY FOR WHAT THEY DID?

Geronimo says THERE WAS.

E.B. plays the apology on his phone.

Harper says MISTER SPEAKER, I
STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO OFFER
AN APOLOGY TO FORMER STUDENTS
OF INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS.

E.B. says NOW DO YOU THINK
THAT APOLOGY HELPED IN ANY WAY?

Geronimo says WELL, IT DID
TO CERTAIN PEOPLE. YOU KNOW?
AND IT DID CAUSE AWARENESS.

Harper says TODAY WE RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS POLICY OF ASSIMILATION WAS
WRONG, HAS CAUSED GREAT HARM,
AND HAS NO PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY.

E.B. says WELL, GERONIMO, YOU'VE
BEEN A HUGE HELP TO SOLVING
OUR MYSTERY, AND I THINK
WE'VE GOT IT FIGURED OUT NOW.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Geronimo says YEAH. GLAD I COULD HELP. YEAH.
(E.B. LAUGHS.)

E.B. says OOH! ONE MORE QUESTION:
HOW ARE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
KEEPING THIS CULTURE ALIVE
THAT THESE SCHOOLS TRIED
SO HARD TO DESTROY?

Geronimo says YEAH, WHAT THEY'RE
DOING RIGHT NOW IS THEY'RE
BRINGING BACK THE LANGUAGE,
THE CULTURE, AND THE CEREMONIES
THROUGH THE SCHOOLS. SO ACTUALLY
THEY CAN LEARN THE LANGUAGE
RIGHT AT THE SCHOOLS.
THERE'S IMMERSION PROGRAMS.

E.B. says OKAY.

Geronimo says SO THE YOUNGER GENERATION,
THERE'S STILL HOPE FOR THEM.
THEY'RE BRINGING EVERYTHING
BACK. AND ANOTHER THING THAT WE
DO HERE IS WE DO THE RITUAL AND
THE CEREMONIES, AND WE GOT NAOMI
AND DEREK TO SHOW YOU THE SMOKE
DANCE. AND YOU'RE WELCOME
TO JOIN RIGHT IN WITH THEM.

Naomi is in h
Naomi says HEY, COME ON OVER.

E.B. says HI!

Naomi is in her forties, with long brown hair in a ponytail and she wears traditional ceremonial clothing.

Naomi says HI.

E.B. says I'M E.B. NICE TO MEET YOU.

Naomi says HI, I'M NAOMI. THIS IS DEREK.

Derek is in his thirties, with brown hair and a goatee. He wears traditional ceremonial clothing.

Derek says HI. I'M DEREK.

E.B. says HI, DEREK.

Derek says GREAT TO MEET YOU.

E.B. says GOOD TO MEET YOU TOO.

Naomi says SO, BASICALLY, ALL YOU'RE
GONNA DO IS LIKE THIS STEP, TAP.

E.B. says OKAY. STEP, TAP. STEP, TAP.
STEP.
(DRUMMING)

Naomi says YEP. YOU WANNA
BE NICE AND LOOSE UP TOP.
(DRUMMING FASTER.)

E.B. says WOAH, WOAH.
(DEREK DRUMMING AND CHANTING.)
(DEREK DRUMMING AND CHANTING.)
(DEREK DRUMMING AND CHANTING.)

Back in the basement, E.B. shows Kyla a video of the dance.

E.B. says YOU GOTTA ADMIT,
I GOT SOME SMOOTH MOVES.

Kyla says SURE, I'LL GIVE YOU
POINTS FOR THAT.

E.B. says AND WE WERE PRETTY SMOOTH
WITH OUR INVESTIGATING WORK.

Kyla says YEP. ANOTHER MYSTERY SOLVED.

E.B. says UH-HUH. GREAT AUNT
HERMIONE'S CHAPTER CALLED
"NOSTRA CULPA" - "OUR FAULT."
IN LATIN - WAS GONNA BE ABOUT
HOW THE PEOPLE IN HER FILE WERE
PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY RACIST
INCIDENTS IN THE PAST THAT HURT
ENTIRE COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES.

Kyla says YEP. CHINESE IMMIGRANTS,
INDIAN IMMIGRANTS,
FIRST NATIONS KIDS.
THE FAULT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S.

E.B. says BLAME THE GOVERNMENT!

Kyla says EVEN THOUGH IT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH TODAY'S
GOVERNMENT, THEY TOOK
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS
IN THE PAST AND THEY APOLOGIZED.

E.B. says UH-HUH. THEY'RE TRYING
TO MAKE UP FOR THE WRONG. WAIT
A MINUTE. SINCE THE GOVERNMENT
WAS VOTED IN BY THE MAJORITY
OF CANADIANS, WEREN'T
THE PEOPLE TO BLAME TOO?

Kyla says THAT'S WHAT HERMIONE
MEANT! IT KIND OF WAS OUR FAULT.

E.B. says WELL, NOT "US," LIKE
ME AND YOU, BUT "US" BACK THEN.
AND EVERYONE THAT WE TALKED TO
SAID THAT THE APOLOGY
DIDN'T UNDO THE WRONG,
BUT IT HELPED BRING ATTENTION
TO THE BAD THING THAT HAPPENED.

Kyla says YEAH. AND APOLOGIES ARE SUPER-
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THEY REMIND
US OF WHAT WE DID AND HELP US
TO NOT REPEAT OUR MISTAKES.

E.B. says UH-HUH.

Kyla says JUST LIKE THE WAY YOU WON'T
REPEAT THE MISTAKE OF GIVING ME
BACK SOMETHING I LOANED YOU.

E.B. says HOW MANY TIMES CAN I TELL YOU?
I GAVE YOU BACK YOUR EARBUDS.

Kyla looks in her backpack and finds the earbuds.

Kyla says OOPS. I GUESS YOU DID
GIVE THEM BACK. SORRY.

E.B. says IT'S OKAY. APOLOGY ACCEPTED.
BUT IT DOESN'T ERASE
THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T
BELIEVE ME AT FIRST.

Kyla says NEXT TIME I'LL TRIPLE-CHECK.

E.B. says NICE. YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT FIRST NATIONS SMOKE DANCE
REALLY INSPIRED ME. OH, KYLA.
WHAT KIND OF DANCING
DOES A PLUMBER DO?

Kyla says WHAT KIND OF DANCING?

E.B. says TAP DANCING!
(E.B. LAUGHS.)
OH. OKAY. WHERE DOES
A BUTCHER GO TO DANCE?

Kyla says WHERE?

E.B. says THE MEATBALL! BECAUSE HE
WORKS WITH THE MEATBALL PASTA.
I'VE GOT A MILLION MORE
OF THESE. WHERE DOES A...

Kyla covers her mouth, shakes her head and smiles.

A song goes MYSTERY SOLVED. POSTING
TO THE
MYSTERY FILES
WEBSITE.

Music plays as the end credits roll.

Cast, Ethan Burnett as E.B. and Kyla Madeira as Kyla.

Producers, Jean-Louis Coté and Joan Taketman.

Director, Zsolt Luka.

An Apartment 11 production.

Produced with TVO Kids.

Logo: TVO Kids.