All language subtitles for Pais abeja

[Makayla]
I'm so nervous.

I've never done anything
like this before.

But I think I can win...

because I'm really smart.

I have to learn 400 words.

That's a lot of words.

And it's the first time ever
that First Nations kids

get to go
to a big spelling bee.

I can't wait.

One day, I want to go
off the reserve

and see what's out there.

[barking]

I don't know what I want to be
when I grow up.

But I study a lot.

I listen in school.

I follow the rules.

And I'm a good student.

[Valance] Makayla, my daughter,
is just amazing.

She has a drive

like no other kid I've seen
at her age.

A determination.

She's super-athletic.

She's just my world.

Ever since the day
she was born,

she just stole my heart
right away.

I got another daughter, too--
McKinley, her younger sister.

I feel the same way
about her,

but Makayla,
she's my firstborn

and we have that bond,

and it's always
going to be there.

No biting, Wiley.
No biting.

-[whimpers]
-No biting.

Makayla gets her smarts
from her dad.

[both laugh]

I was an A student, too,
back in the day, yeah.

-[motor buzzing]
-[dog barking]

[Valance] Seeing people
on the reserve,

a lot of people are talented
on this reserve, and smart,

but they never further
their education after grade 12.

They stick around
and get mediocre jobs.

And I know firsthand

because I got caught up
in all of that stuff.

And I know the abilities
my daughter has

and I don't want her
to shortchange herself.

[laughs]
Can you clean my glasses?

I'm always cleaning
you and Mom's glasses.

-Better?
-Now it's clear, yeah.

Okay, spell "extinguisher."

E-X-T-I-N-G-U-I-S-H-E-R.

Correct.
You're peeking.

-I'm not peeking.
-I'm just kidding.

[chuckles]

Okay, spell "frenzy."

Okay, when we're doing
this practicing,

it's okay if you get it wrong
every now and then.

But when you're onstage
and you're at the spelling bee,

you got to make sure
you get every word right.

As soon as you get it wrong,
you're going to be done.

Frenzy?

"Frantic
or agitated activity."

Frenzy.

Stay positive and don't start
overthinking the situation

because once you start
overthinking things,

then you lose focus.

Just try to keep your mind
calm and clear.

F-R-E-N-Z-Y.

Correct. Good job.
You know it.

Okay, this one.

Spell "Filipino."

Capital F-I-L-I-P-I-N-O.

[Valance]
"Existence."

E-X-I-S-T-E-N-C-E.

Good job again.

[laughs]

[Valance] We can't
really tell the difference

because we grew up
in this area,

but I guess other people that
don't live around this area

say this is the ghetto
of the reserve,

I guess you can call it,

mainly because it's a lot
of people crowded in one area.

It's not really like that
anywhere else

and they don't have
the same problems we have.

But I'm used to it.

Chantelle's used to it.

When you're First Nations,
you don't consider yourself

different or better
than anybody else.

You're equal.
You're all equal in this world.

We're all equal.

We're as equal as the dirt
we walk on.

We're as equal as the grass
that grows, the water.

You learn to be humble

and you learn to be
not so judgmental.

And you just learn
to live in peace and harmony

with everything around you.

[laughs]

I'm, like, really strict
with my kids.

They say I'm mean,
but I don't think I am.

I just like them to be better
than any other kids

that are their age
right now.

Some of them are into drugs.

Some of them are smoking
at 10 years old.

And that's so not right.

[both laugh]

[Chantelle] Makayla,
she's going to get somewhere

when she's older.

It doesn't really matter to me
what she chooses to do

after she leaves
Onion Lake.

It just matters to me
that she comes back and visits.

But first of all,

I want her to finish
her education.

That's the most
important thing.

[yelps and laughs]

[Makayla]
Go get another one.

-[dog barking]
-[kids playing]

[Cecelia]
I want you to see...

In case
you get hungry, yeah?

[laughs]

[William II]
Just lick on the shell.

[Cecelia]
Remember, this is your
last powwow as warrior.

-[William II] As war kings.
-[Cecelia] So make it count.

Dance hard

during your grand entry
and your intertribals.

All right,
you're ready to exit.

-[rhythmic percussion]
-[chanting]

[male announcer, over P.A.]
Ladies and gentlemen,

we welcome Royalty.

Come on in here.

Royalty, come forward.

It's grand entry time.

[William]
My favorite thing about living
on the reserve is the powwows.

When I'm dancing at powwows,
I feel happy.

[chanting and drums beating]

[William II]
William Kaysaywaysemat III.

He is an awesome child.

Very talented.

His friends follow him,
emulate him,

just want to be around him.

He's a leader.

We all provide
different inputs for him,

and he's like a sponge.

He just absorbs everything.

He likes to challenge us.

He's a very competitive
young boy.

And he hates to be wrong

and he hates to lose.

And...

you know,
I always tease him.

"I think you get that
from your mother."

[laughs]

If I were to describe William
in one word,

I would say he is
a go-getter.

And I see that
even in everything,

like sports, academics.

He's competitive in academics.
He's very--

He gets hard on himself.

Nobody is hard on him,
but he's hard on himself.

I mean,
at eight years old,

you really should be out there
having fun.

But then I look at it
and I think,

he likes that.

That's who he is.

[birds chirping]

[William] When I grow up,
I want to be a doctor.

A doctor who saves
people's lives.

I do not want to stay
on the reserve forever.

I want to go travel
around the world,

to go see how it is
in different countries

and their traditions.

I'm going to go to school

and then go back
to the reserve.

[Cecelia] William, he has
high goals for himself

and we want to help him
achieve what he wants.

It's nice to stay
on the reserve, yes.

It's home, it's comfort.

But you have to get
that education,

and you need to go,
you need to leave.

My dad was a residential
school survivor,

and he loved us dearly.

But not knowing
how to parent

in a nurturing way...

he couldn't do that.

Like, he just--

He didn't receive that,
so he couldn't do it.

Clear your plate.

[Cecelia]
I want that cycle to stop,

to make sure that his future
is secure,

his future is bright,
his future is safe.

I want better for my son.

Cool. Cool.

[William II]
Yeah, it is cool when you learn.

No matter what, son,

the key is to enjoy
yourself, right?

Yeah.

And to know...

you don't always
have to be the best.

As long as you try your hardest,
that's all that really matters.

All right?

Because the harder you try,
the better you're going to get.

So...

what do you think
your chances are?

100%.

[laughs]

It's good to have
confidence, son.

It is good, but you still
need some studying.

[Evan] First Nations kids
are federally funded

and we get about
$600 to $800 per kid,

whereas the kids that don't
go to schools on First Nations

are provincially funded,

and they are worth
$11,000 per kid.

The funding gap
is, you know, 4,200-ish,

somewhere in there,
per kid.

And if you times that
by the 190 kids, you know,

that's about $795,000

that we're under-funded
at this school.

That's just our school,
let alone all the other

First Nations schools
in Canada.

It absolutely
breaks my heart right now,

but the reality of it is
I need to teach

math and English more than
I need to teach Cree.

It's a sad reality, but I got
to get these kids ready

for what's out in the world
when they leave our school.

My mentality is
we need to get out there

and experience the world.

And as much as I'd love them
to speak Cree,

I don't think speaking Cree
would get them very far.

Sometimes I want to...

stab myself in the eye
with a pen just to thank them

because it's not how it's
supposed to be on a reserve.

You know, you get these
francophone schools

that get thousands of dollars to
preserve language and culture.

I wish it was mandatory
for all non-Aboriginals

to come and see reserves,

and then paint
their picture.

And there's an old saying:

Never judge a person

until you've walked a mile
in their moccasins.

[woman]
Okay, ready to spell?

-Yeah.
-And game face on?

-Yeah.
-Ready to go?

Okay, let's do this.

Okay, your first word
is "era."

-Era?
-Era.

E-R-A.

Very good.

"Yarnspinner."

Y-A-R-N-S-P-I-N-N-E-R.

-Yarnspinner.
-Way to go.

"Mingle."

M-I-N-G-L-E.

There you go.

[Evan] Little things
like the spelling bee,

the athletics programs we do
and the science fairs we do,

those are the little things
that we can try to do

that the school can offer.

And it's amazing what we can do
in society with parents

that just put some time
into their children.

Oh, it's "hadrosaur."
I said it wrong.

Hadrosaur.

Om...

H-A-D-R-O-S-A-U-R.

-Hadrosaur.
-There you go.

Good job, bud.

[woman] You know what?
To be honest with you,

some of the words
I've never even heard.

So that's why
we need to make sure

that we go over
all the words

and practice
like it's the real thing

because practice makes...?

-[kids] Perfect.
-[woman] Perfect. Awesome.

So you're doing your best,
and doing your best

means you come up nicely,
you stand,

you face everybody,
and you don't be shy

because we're all
proud of you.

Where you're going,
it's awesome and you earned it.

[school bell chimes]

[Thomas] I'm so excited
about this spelling bee

because if I win,
I get to go to Toronto.

And if I go to Toronto,

I have a chance to win
the National Spelling Bee.

My teacher says I'm
the smartest kid in the class.

And I like to compete
against other people

because it's fun
and it helps you learn more.

[Danielle]
Thomas is 10 years old.

He is so smart
that he gets everything.

As soon as you tell him
something, he remembers it.

He's got, like,
that steel-trap mind, you know?

Every year in school
since grade 1,

he's won the math award.

He always asks
a million questions.

-Oh, did I...
-[laughs]

[Danielle] He has three sisters:
two older and one younger.

-Where's Rachel?
-She just went down to soccer.

Oh. Yes.
Does she play soccer?

Yeah, she just
started to play.

[Danielle] He's my one
and only baby boy.

-How about now?
-It doesn't work on me anymore.

Hold on.

[Danielle] There's a lot
of strong women in his family,

and he's going to really
respect women when he grows up.

[laughing]

I'm a single mother,

so I don't really have the money
to take them a lot of places.

But my kids don't ask
for things

because there's a lot of kids
Thomas's age

that haven't even
gone to town.

When their parents get money,
they don't take them

because they don't have
the vehicle, you know?

We've been very lucky
that we do have a vehicle,

and it's a treat for them
just to go to town.

Have they started doing
the practices at school?

Yeah, yesterday.

How many kids are in there?

Five.

-Just the five of you?
-Mm-hmm.

[Danielle]
I think Thomas will go farther

than a lot of people
expect him to.

He surprises everyone.

I don't think you'll have
too hard of a time with these.

I think three of the kids
are in grade 3

because they're all 8.

[Danielle] Thomas comes
from a long line of people

who strived for things
to be better for us,

and I hope to pass that
down to him.

I tell him stories
about it all the time.

"Cluster, coast..."

[Danielle] I'd like to see him
go to university.

That's a big thing
in our family.

Education is super-important.

[Thomas]
"Draft, drowsy..."

[Danielle] And we go through
tons of books.

Sometimes two,
three a day.

[toy narrating book text]

[Danielle]
Living on the reserve,

we're kind of cut off
from a lot of places,

especially
when the weather's bad,

but I love it.

I love it to death because
it's like a big family.

I don't really worry
too much about my kids

when they go visiting
somewhere

because it's usually
a cousin.

[chuckles]

We're related to, like,
95% of the reserve,

and the other 5% have been my
close friends for years, so...

I think that's part
of our culture, you know.

Even the people that aren't
directly related to you,

we still call them cousin
or brother or sister.

-[indistinct chatter]
-[laughter]

[Savannah]
I wanted to let everybody know

that I'm smarter
than the way I am.

People, they used
to bug me a lot

and try to bully me.

But now I'm going
to show them

that I can actually do
something without their help.

I'm doing it to make my dad
proud and my family proud,

especially my best friend

because she encouraged me
to do this.

Come on, Josie.
I don't wanna fish without you.

Josie, hurry up.

[screams and laughter]

[Josie]
Pick up, fishies.

I'm here to eat you.

[laughs]

When nobody's looking.

Okay, let's do it.

[Josie]
Fish! Wake up!

[Savannah]
I was really nervous at first

for a lot of things.

She encouraged me
to do everything,

like all the sports,
the spelling bee.

This is my first time
trying.

[Josie]
Look at Savannah's feet!

[laughs]
All right, Savannah!

I know.

Look, there's so much ice
in my shoe.

[Katherine] We're working
towards getting that first,
second, and third.

That's our goal.

And you're going there
to represent the school,

you're going there to represent
your community,

and you're going there
to represent you.

This isn't just
a spelling bee test.

This is a life lesson, right?

When you see something
that's really hard to reach,

but you're going
to do it anyway.

It can feel very scary to know
that any one of those 400 words

are going to get thrown
at you,

but you can do it.

So when you're studying
those long words,

we want to work together
to do this.

So, if any one of you
ends up going to be the one

to go to Toronto

and you got to go
on a plane--

Scary. I've never gone
on a plane.

--that means we're going to all
support that person

to go there and study
for them, too, right?

I think we need at least, like,
a hundred more to do all this.

It stops at Z. There's only one
Z word and one Y word.

-Really?
-Yeah.

[Savannah] At least I'm doing
something with you

because we never did anything
for a while.

I know.

[Katherine] Out of the 10 girls
for the spelling bee,

I thought Savannah
would be a good student

to focus on
a little more

because she has
a lot of things in life

that she's going through.

And yet, she seems like
she's almost a little tougher

than the rest
because of it.

It's not something
that's broken her.

It's almost become something
that makes her want

to prove something
even more.

And she's actually
studying with Josie,

someone who's going to push
harder than the rest and say,

"Hey, I want to get
that first place,"

because it can be a challenge
to grow up on a reserve.

And you're constantly
hearing it, you know,

in articles and things that talk
about First Nation students

and how they're not likely
to succeed.

So there's a reason
for school.

There's a reason to do well
in a spelling bee.

[Randy] Savannah's mom
was a real hardworking mom,

but really cared for Savannah
all the time.

Even slept with her
all the time,

just the two of them.

They were that close.

And she talks in her sleep,

and talks to her mom
in her sleep.

And it was really,
really hard for us

when she left us, eh?

She lost control
of a vehicle,

and she wasn't wearing
her seat belt.

She got thrown
from that vehicle.

Then I got the call.

The only thing
that was on my mind

was Savannah right away,
you know?

She was only 8 1/2,
I guess.

Now she's 14.

It's been five years.

I was real happy when she
entered the spelling bee.

I'm not going to force her,
what she wants to be,

but I want her to be...

to be something,
you know?

I don't want her
staying around the reserve.

It's a dead end
for everybody, I guess.

There's over 3,000 people here,
so jobs are scarce.

And it's quite a ways
to the city.

It's 65 miles,
you know?

I think we have
a good chance of winning

because we've been
studying a lot

and we've been going to
our meetings during lunchtime.

You and who?

Me, Josie, and Trista.

We might need to go camp
because it's on April 8th.

I was going to call Josie after
and study with her.

Losing my mom was probably
the main reason

I started to get bullied
a lot more.

The only true friend that I had
was Josie that stuck by me.

Boy, this day's
going by real fast, eh?

Yeah.

It's probably, like, what?
5:30, 6:00?

[Josie] It's a nice day out,
but I'm cold.

I'm pretty nervous
for the spelling bee

in North Battleford,
though.

Not me.

The good thing is that
you'll be there with me.

Yeppers.

[Savannah]
Yeah.

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter]

[children babbling]

[Josie]
There's, like, 15 people

that live with me
in my house.

I like living with them

because all of them love me
and take care of me.

I am happy here.

I never want to leave them.

Ever.

[laughs]

My grandparents raised me
ever since I was a baby,

but I just take them
as my parents.

I call them Mom and Dad.

I don't know anything
about my birth mother.

All I know is that
she was young when she had me

and she gave me
to my grandparents.

I like it because I know
all my traditional stuff

and I can talk Cree.

And if I wasn't
with my kokum,

I probably wouldn't
know this stuff.

[Dennis] Josie's been with us
about 14 years now.

I'm hoping someday
I get to see her graduate

and move on...

because I know
how this reserve is.

It's not that it's bad, but...

when you hang around
with the wrong people...

there's been bad things.

Me, I got my culture
to think about,

and I tell them
all the good things.

And so far, they're listening,
and I hope they listen.

I just want her to go
all the way.

That's my feeling.

Because I know she's smart

and I think
she can do it.

Tell me those...

I circled the capitals.
Tell me them.

Okay...

I have to say "capital A"
before I spell it

for a 10 out of 10.

We have to say
every little thing.

Like this--
Look, a hyphen.

We have to spell it
F-I-L-M-hyphen-M-A-K-E-R.

[Marion] Why don't
you read the questions?

You've got to know the meaning
of all these words.

You'll know how to spell it.
You'll know what they mean.

What if I'm on the stage,

I forget all these words
completely?

That happens to some people
at the competition.

They'll just forget
everything.

You just have
to keep practicing.

Practice and practice.
You will remember--

The only words
I don't practice are the--

I'm pretty sure the Ps.

Well, you should
practice them.

-Get more better.
-I know.

Try and go to sleep.

[Josie] I have two baby cousins
that I babysit

every time my dad
has dialysis treatment.

And I have to miss school.

But I love
my baby cousin,

so I don't mind
missing school.

[geese honking]

[Julie]
Wow.

This is huge.

Big school.

There's a lot of land space

and this must be really good
for the children.

What I'm really
looking forward to...

meeting the students,
meeting the people.

This is a nice home, too.

You know what I love about being
a part of the spelling bee?

It brings
the entire community out.

And I just love that

because each and every
one of us have a responsibility

to ensure that our children
are reading.

I mean, some people
look at it and say,

"Well, spelling's not
important."

It's a foundation.

Learning begins
with reading.

And so we're hoping that for
the children who do participate,

that they will notice
that difference for themselves.

It will build
their confidence,

especially a child who felt
that they couldn't,

or someone who didn't believe
that they could,

and here we are,
we're engaging them.

You know, treating them
with love and respect,

and encourage them

because, if nothing more,
that's what they need.

Each and every one of us
needs that.

[Katherine] Sometimes
leaving the community

and going
to a spelling bee

where there's other
First Nations kids,

it's exciting.

It's like
watching them bloom

because now they're
going to go out there

and show what they can
accomplish.

And I want them
to have that feeling

when they are ready
to leave the school,

when they're ready
to go to university.

To say, "There's a lot
of people out there,

"but I'm going
to make a point

and I'm going to make a place
for myself."

[kids chattering
and laughing]

[indistinct chatter]

-Ready to go?
-Yes.

[Julie]
My name is Julie Spence,

and I've been with Spelling Bee
of Canada for 29 years,

so they call me the founder,
right, who started it all.

Now, here's what happens.

You're going to try
your best.

Some words you're gonna spell
correctly, some incorrectly.

Remember that you are
already winners.

-What are you?
-[kids] Winners!

[Julie] Good, and please
don't quit on yourself

when you get
to the microphone.

Even if you're not
absolutely sure, guess.

But don't not try.
Okay?

Sometimes guess
works, too, okay?

Good luck, everybody.

[female announcer, over P.A.]
In partnership

with the Spelling Bee
of Canada,

we are proud to host
the first ever

First Nations Provincial
Spelling Bee,

where our winners
would have the opportunity

to go and compete
at the National Spelling Bee

in Toronto next month.

This investment
in our young ones

provides the future,
future direction,

future leadership,
for our communities

for generations to come.

There's never been
a First Nation

Provincial Spelling Bee
across Canada.

We are making history today.

This is a historical event.

[woman] We will now begin
the primary category.

Words are
in scrambled order,

taken from the official
spelling manual.

Your word is "freshen."

-What?
-[woman] Freshen.

-Freshen?
-[woman] Freshen.

I don't know how to do this.

[woman] You can do it.
Just try.

F-R-E...

S-H-E-N.

Correct.

[applause]

[woman]
"Mindset."

-Mindset?
-[woman] Mindset.

Mindset?

[woman]
Yes. Mindset.

M-I-N-D-S-E-T.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[woman]
Your word is "ravine."

Ravine.

R...?

E...

[woman]
Your word is "ravine."

-Ravine?
-[woman] Ravine.

Ravine.

R-E-V...

E-E-N?

Incorrect.

[woman 3]
6-8-6-5-5-3.

William.

[woman]
Your word is "switch."

Switch.
S-W-I-T-C-H.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[Cecelia] Even though
I couldn't be there,

through texts and through
pictures that he was sending me,

it was almost like
I was there.

[woman]
Your word is "tempo."

T-E-M-P-O.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[Cecelia]
Oh, my gosh.

My heart was pounding
in my chest.

I was so excited

when Will was texting me
the words.

"This is his word
and he got it right.

This is his word,
he got it right."

And I would just look
at the background and think,

"Wow, that many were eliminated
and he's still there."

[woman]
"Hopeless."

H-O-P-E-L-E-S-S.

[woman]
"Recorder."

R-E-C-O-R-D-E-R.

Correct.

[William II]
It was very, very nerve-racking

to sit there and watch
my son onstage

and do so well.

The thing was I didn't even know
what words he knew.

[woman 2]
At this point,

if the contestant spells
the word correctly,

plus the next word,

then he will be declared
champion.

Good luck.

[woman]
Your word is "together."

T-O...

G-E-T-E-R?

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[boy]
T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R.

-Together.
-[woman 2] Correct.

[applause]

[woman]
"Brew."

What?

[laughter]

[woman]
"Brew."

Brew.

B-R-U-E?

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[woman 3]
William.

B-R-E-W.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[applause]

[woman]
Your word is "resolve."

"Results"?

[woman]
"Resolve."

Can I get a definition,
please?

[woman]
Yes, you may.

"To decide firmly
on a consent of action."

R-E-S-O-L-V-E.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[woman 4] And our first place
winner is 6-8-6-5-5-3.

William.

Instant tears.
It was instant tears.

I was like, "Oh, my God,
I am so happy!"

[laughs]

I felt like such a dork,

but it was...
it was huge.

It was huge.

[William II]
I'm so proud that...

Of course it brings
tears to my eyes

because it just makes me
so happy.

I really,

really am proud
of my son.

He amazes me all the time.

[woman] We will now begin
with the junior category.

I would like to encourage
all of our participants

to listen and speak clearly
and slowly into the microphone.

Your word is "compile."

Compile.

C-O-M-P-I-L-E?

-"Hardy"?
-[woman] Hardy.

H-A-R-D-Y.

"Woodpile."

W-O-O-D-P-I-L-E.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[Chantelle] It was nerve-racking
sitting there.

Every time she went up,
I'd just want to, like,

walk out the room
or close my eyes.

[laughs]

[woman] Your word
is "international."

"Construct."

"Heritage."

"Stench."

S-T-E-N-C-H.

-[woman 2] Correct.
-[applause]

[woman]
Your word is a homophone.

"Draughts."

In England,

the game of checkers
is called "draughts."

Are you going to try
to spell the word?

Do you need
a drink of water?

We will have to rule this
as incorrect.

You may take your seat.

"Draughts."

D...

R...

D-R-A-U...

F-T-S.

Draughts.

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[woman 3]
0-3-3-1-9-0.

Thomas.

[woman]
Your word is...

"consolation."

Constellation?

[woman]
Consolation.

Consolation.

C-O-N-S...

E-L-A-T-I-O-N?

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[Thomas] I only studied
the first seven pages.

Maybe that's what
the problem was.

Maybe I needed to study
a bit more.

I think that your kids
are more important.

And giving them the chance
to do stuff...

to get out of here

and just be happy,

that's the most
important thing.

[woman 3]
1-1-9-0-9-0.

Makayla.

[woman]
Your word is "pummeled."

Pummeled.

P-U-M-M-E-L-L-E-D.

Comet.
C-O-M-E-T.

Informal.

I-N-F-O-R-M-A-L.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[applause]

[Valance] I was just sitting
on pins and needles.

And a couple of times, too,
I would think she got it wrong.

I'd be like,
"Oh, she got it wrong."

And then all I hear
is the announcer go "correct."

And then I just..."yes!"

[woman]
Your word is "monetary."

Monetary.

M-O-N-I-T-A-R-Y.

Monetary.

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[woman 3]
Makayla.

[Makayla]
Monetary.

M-O-N-E-T-A-R-Y.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[applause]

[woman 3] Makayla,
you have to spell

two words correct in a row.

[woman 2]
Again, grab the mic.

[woman]
Your word is "economics."

E-C-O...

N-O...

M-I-C-S.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[applause]

[woman 4]
So, ladies and gentlemen,

Makayla is our
first place winner.

[no audio]

[Chantelle] First thing I did,
I called my mom,

and my voice
just wanted to cry.

I guess I was overjoyed.

[Valance]
After the competition,

I asked her how she felt
about me pushing her

and pressuring her.

And she thanked me.

[laughs]

[indistinct chatter]

[woman]
Your word is "dialysis."

D-I-A-L-I-S...

I-S?

-[woman 2] Incorrect.
-Ah.

[woman] Your word
is "bittersweet."

"Symbolism."

"Auctioneer."

A-U-C-T-I-O-N-E-E-R?

[woman 2]
Correct.

[woman 3]
1-7-4-1-1-7. Josie.

[woman]
Your word is...

"gallons."

Gallons.

G-A-L-L-O-N-S.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[applause]

[Josie]
When I was on the stage,

the whole time
I was scared.

And happy.

Guzzle.

G-U-Z-Z-L-E.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[Katherine] I watched every
single one of them go up there,

and I was like, "Oh, please,
please let them get through.

You know, please let them see
what they can accomplish."

[woman]
"Commitment."

"Sandalwood."

"Nerve-racking."

[woman 3]
Savannah Nicks.

[woman]
Your word is "huddled."

Huddled.

H-A-U-L-T-E-D.

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[sighs]

I was really proud of myself
to make it that far.

I made a lot of friends.

I had a really great time
with Josie.

It really was great for me,
actually,

because I got to pronounce
a lot more words.

I got to know
a lot more words.

And I technically
became smarter.

[Katherine]
Oh, I was so proud of her.

The struggle is there,

and she still went past that
and made herself very proud.

[Josie] I felt bad.
I wanted to cry.

I could use Savannah.

Abdomen.

A-B-D-O-M-E-N.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[applause]

[Savannah] Josie was
right beside me

through the whole thing
and I'm really proud of her.

And Miss Masuskapoe,
she's really proud of her.

[woman]
Your word is "apprentice."

Apprentice.

A-P-P-R-E-N-T-I-C-E.

Correct.

[applause]

[woman 3] We will now be moving
into the tiebreaker round.

Your word is...

"porous."

Can you repeat that?

[woman]
"Porous."

P-O-U-R-I-C-E?

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

I don't remember that word
"porous" in the book.

[girl] Can you use it
in a sentence?

[woman] The cheesecloth
was porous enough

to strain the liquid
from the jam.

Porous.

P-O-R-U-S?

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

Can we get the two
that got their words correct

to move over to the side?

And we'll now be going
for third place.

[woman]
Your word is "valid."

Can you repeat that?

[woman]
Valid.

V-A-L-I-D.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[applause]

[woman]
Your word is "reshuffle."

R-E-S-H-U-F-F-L-E.

Correct.

[woman]
Your word is "lopsided."

-Can you repeat that?
-[woman] Lopsided.

Lopsided...

[woman] Would you like
to hear the definition?

"Lopsided: with one side lower
and smaller than the other."

L-O-F-T-S-I-D-E?

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[Josie]
I heard "loftsided."

She said "loftsided."

I could have won,

but I don't think
I ever studied that word.

I was happy I came
in fourth place.

[laughs]
I'm excited even though,

you know, I watched Josie
go up there and battle it out

for third place, and I was like,
"Oh, right on, Josie.

You know, you can do this,
you can do this."

And, you know, even though
my students didn't make it,

they wanted to go up
and they wanted to meet

the person who came in first.

[announcer]
Winning with the words

"millipede" and "calibrate"

is the champion
of the Intermediate Division,

coming from
Saulteaux Heritage School,

Alexander Johansson.

[applause]

Alexander, Makayla,
and William

will be representing
Saskatchewan

at the National Competition
in Toronto in May.

Congratulations to all of our
spelling bee competitors.

You all did a great job.

Today, we have all been
a part of history,

competing and attending
the first ever

First Nations Provincial
Spelling Bee.

[Alexander]
It felt very good

to win the provincial
spelling bee.

Holding the trophy,
getting a lot of pictures--

it was pretty...

amazing.

I really liked it.

Everyone's proud of him,
especially from our community.

They're like, "Wow.
Wow, you're so smart."

[laughs]

I was nervous for him,

but he didn't even
look nervous at all.

[laughter]

And then he told me
that he just about

let that other girl win.

He was, like,
going to deliberately lose

just to let her win.

And then he thought, nope,
I'd better spell the word right.

[all laugh]

[dog barking]

Buddy, stop barking.

[Alexander] I really like
living here at Saulteaux.

All I pretty much remember
is living here.

Good boy.

It's awesome.

You get to go hiking,
get to go camping.

You don't have
a short yard.

You don't have to worry
about getting hit by a car

when you cross the street.

It's pretty fun here.

One day, I will have to leave
from this house.

But I'm fine with that.

You can't live
with your parents forever.

I do think I'll graduate
high school and go to college.

You could become a lawyer
or perhaps doctor.

That makes me want
to be smart.

So I try hard in school.

I do my best

in what subjects
I can do.

Education is really important
because you can get a job,

you can go to college,
you can do a lot of things.

Good morning, CKCS, on this
beautiful Thursday, April 14th.

A nice spring and summer day
outside there.

And we have a champion
amongst us.

Mr. William Kaysaywaysemat III
was the overall champion

for the grade 1-3 category.

So, William, great job.
You're a rock star.

He now qualifies
for the spelling bee

in Toronto, Ontario,
on May 15th.

So have an awesome day,
CKCS.

[all cheer]

[woman]
Go, William!

[Evan] I'm so proud
of what William's done.

We're such a small little place
on this world.

You know, Kahkewistahaw--
who would have thought

even three months ago
that we'd have a kid

going to the National
Spelling Bee in Toronto?

[all, chanting]
William! William! William!

[Evan]
There's so many people

that should take credit
for this

'cause this was good
for our people.

Whether he goes
and answers no words right

or 20 words right,

he's already paving the way
for next year.

Like, they're icebreakers
right now

because our kids
are already starting practicing

for the spelling bee.

[Cecelia]
Okay, here's a tricky one.

"Entice."

-Entice?
-[Cecelia] Entice.

Entice.

E-N-T-I-S-E.

Entice.

[Cecelia]
Nope.

Oh, boy, we're really going
to have to go over these.

Well, these are the ones
I got wrong last time.

[Cecelia] I know, that's why
we're going over them again.

E-N-T-I-C-E.

All right.

Hmm, ha! I don't even know
what this means.

But..."kente."

"Kente."

K-E-N...

T-A-I?

[Cecelia]
Oh, you were close.

K-E-N-T-E.

"Fathom."

-"Fathom."
-[William] Fathom.

F-A-T-H-U-M.

Close.

F-A-T-H-O-M.

Okay? Oh, man,
these are hard.

[chuckles]
But that's okay.

You can do this.

Okay, here's another
tricky one.

"Federal."
"Federal."

"Federal."

Sound it out.
Take your time.

You can do this.

Don't be so hard
on yourself, William.

"Federal."

F-E-D...

[sniffles]

[William sobs]

Hey, look at me.

You can do this.

I have so much faith
in you.

[sobbing and sniffling]

William...

That's why we're studying.

Okay? Take a deep breath.

[inhales and exhales]

Deep breath.

It's okay.

Okay? It's not--
This is not worth crying over.

Right? It's not worth
crying over.

This is a fun thing.

Yes, we have to work,
to study.

Yes, you got to do
some work, okay?

It's fine. It's fine.

Don't put so much pressure
on yourself, William.

You're only eight years old.

It's fine, okay?

Look at me and say, "Okay."

Okay.

[sniffles]

Okay.

Tell me when you're ready
to go again.

[William]
I'm ready.

[Cecelia]
"Impossible."

Impossible.

I-M-P-O...

S-S-I-B-L-E?

[Cecelia]
Good man!

So proud of you.
You're doing awesome.

"Mortar."

"Mortar."

Or "mor-ter."

Mor-tar.

M-O-R-T-A-R.

-Mortar.
-Yes.

Good job.

Now, what else can we throw
onto this poster?

"You can do anything"?

There you go.

[both laugh]

[Valance] Since she won
the spelling bee,

her favorite name
has been Queen Bee.

I think it was her uncle
that first called her that.

"Oh, it's the queen bee,"
and then that name just stuck.

It's actually all surreal
right now at the moment.

I can't believe my daughter's
going to compete

at a national level.

She's only 11.

That doesn't happen too often
on a reserve.

That's my gift to you.

Oh, cool!
Where'd you get it?

-Look at that.
-Where'd you get it made?

[woman] That's a bee
and your winning word.

Look at that.

[Valance] Everybody's very, very
supportive in this community.

Everybody's
behind Makayla 100%.

People that we never talk to
or hardly associate with,

but then there's also
her five aunties.

Every single one of her aunties
are just independent,

they're strong,
they're smart, beautiful.

And that's exactly
how Chantelle is

and I know that's exactly
how Makayla's going to be.

I'm really proud of that
because in our culture,

women are the backbone
of the family.

They're the matriarchs.

Really know
how to hold a family down.

[all]
Good luck, Makayla!

Whoo!

[indistinct chatter]

[William II]
You know where my razor is?

[Cecelia]
It's in the drawer.

[William II]
You grab your toothbrush?

[Cecelia]
Yes, I have my toothbrush.

It's in my makeup bag.

This goes in there.

Okay, go in your room and
get your spelling bee T-shirt

and your Toronto Blue Jays
medallion.

I got hairspray, makeup.

I have perfume.

What kind of earrings
are you going to wear?

These are my thinking ones.

Okay, we can take them
and we'll see.

Another option
could be these ones.

[William]
Yeah.

[Cecelia] And then I have
to look for those shell ones.

We've been waiting
for this moment,

for this day to come.

And I know that William
is going to be

in front of I don't know
how many people.

And I'm really nervous for him,
but we're all excited.

The whole family.

Are you ready, William?

-We're going to do it, right?
-[William] Yep.

[William II]
All right, here we go.

[William]
Bye, house.

[William II]
This is going to be

the very first time

my entire family
has gone somewhere together.

All right, we officially
left the reserve.

[laughs]

Bye-bye, person.

[Cecelia]
William, are you nervous?

I don't know.

[William II] You got nothing
to be nervous about.

You just be yourself

and remember all the things
that you practiced

and you will be awesome.

[Cecelia]
Yep.

[William II]
And you're trying.

That's the best thing
that anyone can do.

You never know what you're going
to do until you try.

Ah!

I'm nervous.

[Valance]
Oh, our first time on a plane.

And of all days, it has to be
on Friday the 13th.

I'm not really superstitious,
but, you know,

that's in the back
of our heads.

[Chantelle]
I just told her to pray

before she goes
on the plane.

[announcer, over P.A.]
Ladies and gentlemen,

we are going on to the National
Spelling Bee in Toronto.

Can we ask you to come on up
for boarding at this time?

Come on up here.
Congratulations.

-[man] Yes!
-[all] Whoo!

[applause]

[Makayla] I've never been
on a plane before,

and I'm so scared.

But I still want
to do it.

Oh, man,
this feels weird.

[indistinct chatter]

Watch, we're going to be
leaving the ground pretty soon.

[laughs]

[Valance]
I might just be sick.

[indistinct chattering]

Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!

[Valance]
Here we go. Look out.

-I'm scared.
-Yeah, we're going fast now.

[excited chatter]

[William II]
That is awesome.

Look at how small
that truck is down there.

[Chantelle] Oh, my God,
we're in the clouds.

Look at that, girl.
We're in the clouds.

[powwow drumbeat]

[man chanting]

[car horns honk]

[laughs]
What?

East Toronto.

There you are.

Ajax-Pickering.

Family of Housing?
There you are.

First Nation Provincial.
Here you are.

WR3 Family of Schools.

-This?
-There's no middle line there.

Right here.
It's right here.

Oh, okay, there.
Mom's got it.

[Chantelle] Just being there
was so surreal

because this is a new thing
for her and for us,

and we didn't know what
to expect until we were there.

It just matters to me that
she's making Onion Lake proud.

Like, representing
her reservation

and actually being in Toronto
for the first time.

-[Valance] Okay, are we ready?
-Yeah.

[Valance]
Okay, we're ready. Let's go.

[Alexander]
At first I felt calm.

But when we were
getting closer,

I started to feel nervous

of the other people
at the spelling bee.

Just their height
made me nervous

because they were
taller than me.

A lot taller than me.

[William]
It felt scary.

My tummy hurts,

and I feel it on my arms,

my legs, and my head.

Every body part
starts shaking.

[Valance]
She's just really nervous.

I've never seen her
that nervous before.

I don't think I've ever been
that nervous before either.

After hearing about some
of the kids' backgrounds...

You know, they come
from private schools

and they got
these private tutors.

That intimidated her
even more.

[Makayla]
It felt scary.

All those people
and all the cameras.

And I didn't want to mess up
in front of those people.

[man]
Hello, everyone.

Welcome to the National
Spelling Bee of Canada
championships.

Let's give them
a big round of applause
as they come in, okay?

[announcer 1] Representing
First Nations Provincial,
number 50:

William Kaysaywaysemat.

[announcer 2] Number 40:
Makayla Cannepotato.

Number 60:
Alexander Johansson.

[Julie]
This year...

we are excited to invite
the First Nations Provincial

Spelling Bee participants
from Saskatchewan

to participate
in their first ever

Spelling Bee of Canada
championship spelling bee.

These students
have come very far,

and we are proud
of their accomplishments

and look forward to our
further collaboration.

[woman] We will now
begin the competition

using words from
the championship study list.

We would like to now call

the first contestant
to the microphone.

Your word is "announcer."

[boy 1] Can you please
repeat the word?

[woman]
Announcer.

A-N-N-O-U-N-C-E-R.

-Announcer.
-[woman 2] Correct.

[girl 1] "Reliant."
Am I pronouncing
that correctly?

-[woman 3] Yes, you are.
-[girl 1] Reliant.

R-E-L-I-A-N-T.

-Reliant.
-Correct.

[woman]
Your word is "regress."

[girl 2] Regress.
R-E-G-R-E-S-S.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[woman 4]
Number 50, William.

[woman]
Your word is "cagey."

Cagey.

C-A-G-E-Y.

-Cagey.
-[woman 2] Correct.

[woman 4]
Number 51, Akil.

Oh, I'm so nervous.

It was me.
I was so nervous.

I looked around and I thought,
if that were me at that age,

that would be
a huge culture shock.

And I thought, well,
how is he going to feel?

I want him to be accepted.
And he was.

It didn't really
affect him at all.

[man]
Your word is "economics."

-Economics?
-[man] Correct.

E-C-O...

N-O-M-I-C-S.

[woman]
Correct.

[woman 2]
40, Makayla.

[man] Your word
is a homophone.

"Choral."

Choral.

C-H-O-R-A-L.

-Choral.
-[woman] Correct.

She's good.

[boy]
Exodus.

E-X-O-D-U-S.

Exodus?

Knave.
K-N-A-V-E.

-Antique?
-[man] Antique.

Can you repronounce that,
please?

-[woman] "Mischievous."
-Mischievous?

[woman] Mischievous
or mischievous, yes.

Mischievous.

M-I-S-C-H-I-E-V-O-U-S.

Mischievous.

-Correct.
-[applause]

[woman]
Your word is "quips."

-Quips?
-[woman] Quips.

-Can you re-pronounce?
-[woman] Quips.

Eutrophic.

May I please have
the definition?

[man] Your word has
three correct pronunciations.

Carillon, carillon,
and carillon.

Carillon.

-[man] Your word is "alienate."
-Alienate.

[boy] Can I please have
a part of speech?

[man]
Noun.

-Is it a proper noun?
-[man] No, it's not.

Can you put the word
in a sentence, please?

[girl]
Morph.

M-O-R-P-H. Morph.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[woman 3]
Number 50, William.

[woman]
Your word is "mortar."

Come on, my boy.

Mortar.

M-O-T-E-R.

Mortar.

Incorrect.

Oh...

[woman]
Your word is "mortar."

[boy]
Mortar.

M-O-R-T-A-R.

Mortar.

[woman 2]
Correct.

[Cecelia]
It hurts when you know

that your child is so hurt
because they know

that they could have
done better.

And I knew
how disappointed he was.

I could see it
all across his face.

He knew the word.
He knew it.

He just did it
too quickly.

[William II]
When we had William,

I made a promise to him
that I would be the best dad

that I could possibly be

and make sure
he has a chance.

[Cecelia] It's okay.
It's all good.

Oh...

You did so good.

[William II]
As far as I'm concerned,

William winning

the First Nation
Provincial Spelling Bee

and going to nationals,

he's already a winner
in my book.

[Cecelia]
Remember what we said.

You won to get here.

How many...

how many people
can say that?

Stand up. Stand up.

Be proud.
Be proud of yourself.

Be proud of your
accomplishments.

Be proud of all the work
you did to get here.

[man] Your word
is a homophone.

"Ananda."

A word from Sanskrit
meaning "perfect bliss."

Ananda.
A-N-A-N-D-A.

-Ananda.
-[woman] Correct.

[man]
Your word is "entirety."

Entirety.

-Entirety?
-[man] Entirety.

E-N-T-I-R-E-T-Y.

-Good job.
-[woman] Correct.

[woman 2]
41, Emya.

[Valance] Getting to see
my daughter on the podium

and being in
that national spotlight,

that was the greatest.

Double fist pump.

It was fun to open up and brag:
"That's my daughter!"

[woman]
60, Alexander.

[woman 2] Your word
is "juxtaposition."

J-U-X-T-A...

P-O-S-I-T-I-O-N.

Juxtaposition.

[woman 3]
Correct.

[Makayla]
Ultramarine.

U-L-T-R-A-M-A-R-I-N-E.

[woman 3]
Correct.

Decree.
D-E-C-R-E-E.

Decree.

[woman 3]
Correct.

[man] Your word
is "unforgettable."

Unforgettable.

U-N-F-O-R...

G-E-T-T-A...

T-A...

No.

Can you repeat the word?

Once you start spelling,

you have to finish
the word.

B-L-E.

[woman]
Incorrect.

[Valance]
It wasn't her fault that
she didn't get it right.

She knew the word.
I seen it right away.

As soon as she stepped down
from the podium,

she already had tears
in her eyes.

And I was just
immediately thinking

how am I going to comfort her
and what words to say.

[male announcer] Returning
to the audience are,

from First Nation Provincial,
number 40, Makayla Cannepotato.

[applause]

Confidence.
Wipe your eyes, now.

Let's wipe your eyes now.

We did good, my girl.
We did good, you know?

You did really good.

-[whimpering and sniffling]
-Okay?

Yeah, a lot of these people
are going to be future doctors

and stuff like that.

You're right there
with them.

You knew you made
a mistake,

but it was too late
to correct it.

There's nothing wrong
with making mistakes, right?

That's the only way
we learn.

Okay, wipe your eyes.

You want to go to the bathroom
and wash your face? Okay.

You did good, my girl.
Okay?

Don't doubt yourself.

You did really,
really awesome.

[Julie] Participants,
we will now be switching

to the tiebreaker round.

Please note that during
the tiebreaker rounds,

a new list of words
is introduced.

These words are not listed
in the championship study list.

-Good luck.
-[man] Thank you, Julie.

[woman]
Your word is "soutache."

Can you please
repeat the word?

[woman]
Soutache.

Can I have the definition,
please?

[woman] "A narrow,
flat ornamental braid

used to trim garments."

[boy] Can you use it
in a sentence?

[woman] Her new jacket
had soutache on the pockets

and around the collar
and lapel.

Soutache.

S-U-T-A-S-H.

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

-[boy] Is it a proper noun?
-[woman] No, it is not.

Soutache.

S-U...

T-A-C-H-E?

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[woman 3]
60, Alexander.

[woman]
Your word is "soutache."

Can you repeat
the word, please?

[woman]
Soutache.

S-O-O-T-A-S-H.

Soutache.

[woman 2]
Incorrect.

[woman 3]
61, Daniel.

Soutache.

S-O-U...

T-A-C-H-E.

Soutache.

-Correct!
-[applause]

He kicked out every one.

[Alexander] I didn't know
how to spell the word

or never heard
of the word.

I don't really think
I'm a competitive kid,

but I do like winning.

I don't really like losing.

[man]
From First Nation Provincial,

number 60,
Alexander Johansson.

[applause]

[Alexander]
I felt sad.

Really sad.

[announcer speaking
indistinctly]

[Joanne]
It's okay.

Don't feel bad, my son.

Look at all the ones
that left.

-I know.
-That's, like, 12.

-I know.
-And that was a tough word.

-I know.
-We didn't know--

We didn't study
those words.

But you did
really good.

-That's really good.
-Can we go now?

[Joanne] Well, we have
two more days here.

What do you want to do
for fun?

[crowd cheering]

[excited chatter]

[Alexander]
I had lots of fun there

because I got to get away
from home

and the Blue Jays game
was pretty awesome.

[William]
I felt kind of happy

and kind of sad.

So I felt sappy.

Bautista. Come on, Bautista.
Hit us home.

Hit it home.

-He's a good hitter.
-He's a good hitter.

He's the power hitter.

Hit it!

[Makayla]
It was the best time ever.

I was at a game, watching
my favorite baseball team.

I will never forget it.

[all cheer]

[whistle]

Let's go, Bautista!

[Alexander] After seeing
the big city, Toronto,

I thought that it was
way too busy there.

Too many people.

And I'm not sure
a lot of people like it there.

Watch your step.

Like, you would think
a big city's really nice.

You could do
a lot of things.

But too many things
can happen.

And when you live out here,

you don't really have
to worry lots.

[man] You know that fire
burns upwards, right?

-Mm-hmm.
-[man] And then all you do

is give it some air,
and away she goes.

So how do we say "fire"
in Cree?

-[all] Iskotew.
-Good job. Iskotew.

[Alexander]
I do want to try

the spelling bee again
this year.

I want to get
another crack at it

because...

who doesn't want to win
a thousand dollars?

[Valance] She wants
to travel more now, actually.

That's what she wants to do.

It really broadened
her horizon.

It really opened up her eyes
to the world.

Gave us a little bit more
motivation to push them harder

because it shows that
we're doing something good

as parents.

[laughing]

Look at how far she came.

[laughs]

[Cecelia] I think
the whole experience

of the First Nations
Spelling Bee

and the National Spelling Bee,

it helped him
boost his confidence,

helped him see
what he could do.

I mean, he was pretty outgoing
to begin with,

but now he sees
the potential that he has.

[William]
46 to 9.

47 to 9.

[William II]
Having the First Nations
Provincial Spelling Bee

demonstrates that
First Nation people,

given the proper opportunity,

the proper resources,

can be equal
to anyone else.

Sarah.

[laughs]

[William II]
What we need to do

is to make sure education
continues to be a priority

because we know
that that's our future.

Oliver, head outside, okay?
Head outside for your lunch.

Eden, go somewhere
and eat.

[William II]
We have to take it back

and become
self-sufficient.

And to be able to give our
children that opportunity

is all that we can
ask for.

And I think that the chiefs
that signed the treaties...

I think that's all they wanted
for their people.

You know, once we achieve that,
the sky's the limit.

[kids laugh]

[music playing]

* Which country's sandy beach
Will my toes hit *

* If money
were nonexistent? *

* How would everything
Be different *

* If the world were free?

* Would there be no war
Or pride? *

* Would everyone
Feel safe at night? *

* No more violence,
No more fights *

* If the world were free

* If it were free

* Free, free

* If it were free

* Free, free

* What if we couldn't
Put a price on *

* The river we drain
From the trees we survive from
*

* If we saw the world
For a collective hope *

* Not every man for himself,
Would there still be hope? *

* Hope

* If it were free

* Free, free

* If it were free

* Free, free

* How would it
Be different? *

* Let's make a change

* Diamond rings
And fancy things *

* They're all so pretty

* But I believe
There's more to see *

* If it gets
With you and me *

* If it were free

* Free, free

* If it were free

* Free, free

* If it were free

* Free, free

* If it were free

* Free, free

* How would everything
Be different *

* If the world were free?