Trouble in the Garden: Remembering the Sixties Scoop

Canada’s ugly policy of separating Indigenous children from their families began in the 1870’s with the Residential Schools system. Then generations later the 60’s Scoop (1950s – 1980s) saw Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families to be adopted into white middle-class homes.A dramatic reckoning with this legacy comes Trouble in the Garden, a film that brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences, provoking critical and important conversations. 

The film began its Canadian theatrical rollout February 15th in Toronto and has screened in 20 cities across Canada. Written & directed by Roz Owen with the key collaboration of Executive Producer Raven Sinclair, it stars acclaimed Canadian actress Cara Gee alongside Jon Cor, Fiona Reid, Frank Moore, Kelly Van der Burg and Wesley French.

The film follows the story of a woman named Raven, (Gee) a radical eco-activist, who is jailed for protesting development on disputed Indigenous land. Long estranged from her adoptive family, she never imagined her brother Colin would be the one to bail her out. Compelled to stay at his suburban home, she discovers he's in real estate; pre-selling houses on the very land she's been trying to save. Adopted, disowned, and now under house arrest, this is a story of betrayal and reckoning with love, land, and blood.

The producers of the film are proud to announce that Trouble in the Garden has received official selections at the Ottawa Canadian Film Festival and the 44th American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress nominations. Screening at AIFF on Oct. 30th, awards will be announced on Nov. 2nd — the day of the Ottawa Canadian Film Festival screening.