The film opens with a brief prologue explaining the history of Canadians First Nations children being compelled by law to attend Canadian Indian residential school system. In 1966, the prepubescent Aila (Miika Whiskeyjack) lives with her father Joseph (Glen Gould), mother Anna (Roseanne Supernault) and younger brother Tyler at the fictional Red Crow Reserve, a Mi'kmaq Indian reserve. Aila's parents consume drugs and alcohol to cope with the abuse they suffered at St. Dymphna's residential school. Tyler is accidentally killed by Anna during a Driving under the influence. The grief-stricken Anna commits suicide while Joseph takes the blame and is imprisoned.