What Happens at the End of We Were Children?

For over 130 years till 1996, more than 100,000 of Canada's First Nations children were legally required to attend government-funded schools run by various Christian faiths. There were 80 of these 'residential schools' across the country. Most children were sent to faraway schools that separated them from their families and traditional land. These children endured brutality, physical hardship, mental degradation, and the complete erasure of their culture. The schools were part of a wider program of assimilation designed to integrate the native population into 'Canadian society.' These schools were established with the express purpose 'To kill the Indian in the child.' Told through their own voices, 'We Were Children' is the shocking true story of two such children: Glen Anaquod and Lyna Hart.

Tim Wolochatiuk's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Lyna Hart (Self)'s journey. There were 80 of these 'residential schools' across the country.

How Does Lyna Hart (Self)'s Story End?

• Lyna Hart: Lyna Hart's arc reaches a definitive conclusion by the final act, with Tim Wolochatiuk delivering a resolution that feels earned after the film's 1h 28m runtime.
• Ross McMillan (Father Y): Ross McMillan's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Glen Anaquod (Self): Glen Anaquod's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

Is We Were Children Based on a True Story?

Yes — We Were Children draws from real events. The ending reflects documented outcomes, though Tim Wolochatiuk has taken creative liberties in dramatizing specific scenes for cinematic impact.

What Does the Ending of We Were Children Mean?

The ending of We Were Children ties together the narrative threads involving Lyna Hart. Tim Wolochatiuk chooses a conclusion that prioritizes thematic consistency over surprise, resulting in an ending that rewards viewers who engaged with the story's central themes.