The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians will host a screening of the documentary Nine Little Indians on November 17 at the Sky Dancer Event Center in Belcourt, North Dakota, highlighting the experiences of nine Native sisters who survived abuse in the American Indian boarding school system.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Shannon Kring and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tony Robbins, the documentary follows the Charbonneau sisters and their decades-long pursuit of acknowledgment, justice, and healing.
The screening, scheduled for 5 p.m., is part of Native American Heritage Month and offers community members an opportunity to learn about the lasting impacts of boarding schools on Native families and communities.
Nine Sisters’ Fight for Justice
The documentary tells the story of nine Charbonneau sisters, members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, who attended St. Paul’s Indian Mission School, also known as Marty Indian School, in Marty, South Dakota.
The sisters reported experiencing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse while attending the Catholic-run boarding school.
In 2008, the sisters pursued legal action against the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls and other Catholic entities, seeking accountability and restitution for the abuse they endured.
Their legal battle became part of a broader effort to expose abuses committed within the American Indian boarding school system, where generations of Native children were separated from their families, languages, and cultural traditions.
The film includes testimony from surviving sisters and examines the lasting effects of their experiences on subsequent generations.
It also follows Dr. Marsha Small, a Northern Cheyenne researcher who uses ground-penetrating radar and other geophysical methods to investigate possible unmarked graves at former boarding school sites.
Bringing Boarding School Stories to Light
American Indian boarding schools operated across the United States for generations, often under federal policies intended to assimilate Native children into Euro-American society.
Religious organizations operated many institutions with federal support. Children frequently faced punishment for speaking their Native languages or practicing their cultural traditions, while survivors have documented experiences of neglect, abuse, and family separation.
Nine Little Indians examines this history through the experiences of the Charbonneau family, emphasizing both the trauma survivors endured and their efforts to seek accountability.
The documentary made its world premiere at Film at Lincoln Center in New York City on May 27th, 2026, where the screening brought together survivors, filmmakers, and advocates.
Director Shannon Kring has previously worked on documentaries examining Indigenous rights and environmental justice, including End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock.
Community Screening at Turtle Mountain
The November 17th screening brings the documentary to the Turtle Mountain community, where the Charbonneau sisters have family and tribal connections.
By sharing their experiences, the sisters’ story contributes to ongoing conversations about historical accountability, intergenerational trauma, and healing within Native communities.
The film also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving survivors’ testimony and ensuring that the experiences of Native children within the boarding school system are not forgotten.
Screening Information
- Film: Nine Little Indians
- Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
- Time: 5:00 p.m.
- Location: Sky Dancer Event Center, Belcourt, North Dakota
- Hosted by: Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
The documentary contains accounts of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and may be distressing for some viewers.
Sources:
- Turtle Mountain Tribe – Official Facebook Page
- Film at Lincoln Center – Nine Little Indians
- South Dakota News Watch – Documentary About South Dakota Boarding School Premieres in New York
- South Dakota News Watch – Nine Little Indians Tells Story From South Dakota’s Native Boarding Schools
- Red Queen Media – Film Screenings
