▁numerous ▁board ing ▁schools . ▁▁ ▁These ▁board ing ▁schools ▁were ▁function ed ▁to ▁isol ate ▁and ▁er ase ▁Native ▁American ▁identity . ▁ ▁They ▁both ▁grew ▁up ▁in ▁a ▁world ▁of ▁dru gs ▁and ▁prost itution ▁and ▁continue ▁to ▁struggle ▁with ▁their ▁past ▁lives . ▁ ▁Their ▁hope ful ▁out look ▁and ▁efforts ▁to ▁rec laim ▁their ▁spiritual ity ▁and ▁identity ▁is ▁what ▁inspired ▁this ▁film . ▁ ▁The ▁struggle ▁Joy ce ▁and ▁P au lette ▁have ▁had ▁to ▁go ▁through ▁are ▁similar ▁to ▁and ▁reflect ▁on ▁what ▁the ▁majority ▁of ▁Native ▁Americans ▁today ▁have ▁had ▁to ▁face . ▁ ▁Between ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁and ▁ 1 9 6 7 , ▁around ▁one - third ▁of ▁Native ▁American ▁children ▁were ▁re located ▁to ▁non - Ind ian ▁fost er ▁homes ▁under ▁the ▁Indian ▁A do ption ▁Project . ▁ ▁Production ▁ ▁After ▁doing ▁extensive ▁research ▁on ▁sex ▁tra ff ick ing ▁for ▁the ▁ 3 ▁Gener ations ▁film ▁Tr icked , ▁Jane ▁Well s ▁realized ▁that ▁in ▁Minnesota ▁the ▁issues ▁facing ▁Native ▁American ▁women ▁and ▁girls ▁were ▁so ▁deep - root ed ▁and ▁complex ▁that ▁she ▁should ▁make ▁a ▁film ▁about ▁it . ▁ ▁While ▁Mrs . ▁Well s ▁did ▁spend ▁time ▁with ▁young , ▁at - ris k ▁Native ▁girls ▁she ▁also ▁realized ▁it ▁would ▁not ▁be ▁eth ical ▁to ▁film ▁them ▁because ▁of ▁their ▁frag ile ▁family ▁structures . ▁ ▁She ▁instead , ▁at ▁the ▁suggestion ▁of ▁a ▁social ▁worker , ▁fil med ▁the ▁girl ’ s ▁moth