For Immediate Release
Minden, Ontario
Thursday, March 20, 2025
10:00 AM
Release # 25-31

Subject: Documentary Screening of "Cold Journey” on April 3 at the Minden Hills Cultural Centre

The Minden Hills Cultural Centre, in collaboration with the Haliburton County Public Library, is pleased to announce a free screening of Cold Journey (1975) at the Cultural Centre on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

Directed by Martin Defalco, Cold Journey is a poignant drama about Indigenous youth in 1970s Canada. It follows 15-year-old Buckley Petawabano, a Cree boy at a residential school, torn between his family's traditions and imposed expectations. The story echoes the real-life tragedy of Chanie Wenjack, an Anishinaabe boy who died fleeing a residential school in 1966. His death sparked national attention and led to the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools.

Cold Journey holds historical significance as it is one of the first Canadian films to cast Indigenous actors in leading roles, featuring performances by Buckley Petawabano, Johnny Yesno, and Chief Dan George. The film's soundtrack includes soulful music by Willie Dunn, enhancing its emotional depth.

This screening takes place during the exhibit opening of We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Experience, a traveling exhibit by Lake of the Woods Museum. The exhibit will be on display in the Welch Room from April 1 to June 30, 2025. The documentary screening and the exhibit aim to foster reflection and discussion on the lasting impacts of residential schools and the resilience of Indigenous communities.  

The Minden Hills Cultural Centre is located at 176 Bobcaygeon Road, Minden, Ontario. For more information, visit the Cultural Centre’s social media calendar page: https://www.facebook.com/mindenculturalcentre/

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