The powerful new Alberta-shot drama Meadowlarks delves into the profound personal costs of the Sixties Scoop through the story of four Indigenous siblings meeting for the first time in decades. Directed by Tasha Hubbard and inspired by her acclaimed documentary Birth of a Family, the film explores themes of cultural displacement and family reconnection against the stunning backdrop of the Canadian Rockies.
Indigenous Actors Bring Authenticity to Complex Roles
The film features four accomplished Indigenous actors who have each explored their heritage through their artistic careers. Michael Greyeyes, who is Nehiyaw or Plains Cree from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, earned Independent Spirit Award and Gotham Award nominations for his role in Wild Indian. Alex Rice, a Mohawk member of Kahnawake First Nation, previously played Janet Pete in the mystery anthology Skinwalkers.
Carmen Moore, of Wet'suwet'en and Scottish heritage registered with Hagwilget Village First Nation, co-produced several Indigenous-focused features including Two Indians Talking and Re-Uniting. Michelle Thrush, a Cree actress and founding member of Calgary's Making Treaty 7 Culture Society, tours Canada with her one-woman show Inner Elder.
Connecting Through Shared Disconnection
In Meadowlarks, these seasoned performers face the unique challenge of portraying characters disconnected from their cultural roots. The four actors play siblings separated during the Sixties Scoop who reunite in their fifties during a holiday weekend in Banff.
Michelle Thrush explained the particular acting challenge in an interview: "All four of us know our culture. We had to put all of that away, and there were times when we were suggesting things and had to say, 'Wait a minute, they wouldn't know that.' The most interesting thing for me was coming from a place that was not grounded in culture."
Personal Story Inspires Universal Themes
The film draws from Hubbard's personal experiences of being separated from her birth parents at just three months old. Meadowlarks follows the four Cree siblings as strangers brought together by circumstance, surrounded by the majestic beauty of Banff and introduced to Cree elders who help them navigate their cultural rediscovery.
As the siblings attempt to connect with both their heritage and each other, the film examines the lingering effects of the Sixties Scoop, including the profound sense of abandonment and loss of identity experienced by thousands of Indigenous children. The project represents a significant contribution to the growing body of work by Indigenous filmmakers telling their own stories with authenticity and depth.
