Murray Sinclair

Inspired by true events, this story of strength, family, and culture shares the awe-inspiring resilience of Elder Betty Ross. Abandoned as a young child, Betsy is adopted into a loving family. A few short years later, at the age of 8, everything changes. Betsy is taken away to a residential school. There she is forced to endure abuse and indignity, but Betsy recalls the words her father spoke to her at Sugar Falls—words that give her the resilience, strength, and determination to survive. Sugar Falls is based on the true story of Betty Ross, Elder from Cross Lake First Nation. We wish to acknowledge, with the utmost gratitude, Betty’s generosity in sharing her story. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Sugar Falls goes to support the bursary program for The Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation. This 10th-anniversary edition brings David A. Robertson’s national bestseller to life in full colour, with a foreword by The Hon. Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and a touching afterword from Elder Betty Ross herself.

This document focuses on those elements of the residential school history that were unique to M tis people. As such, the discussion centres on government and church policy regarding enrolment, and on the history of a number of institutions that were primarily intended for M tis students. The conclusion brings the focus back to the students, making use of statements that have been given to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and of several projects that collected M tis residential school memories. One of the most significant of these is the M tis Nation of Alberta's M tis Memories of Residential Schools: A Testament to the Strength of the M tis.