Phyllis and the Ladybugs

Ann Verrall

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22 min

Phyllis and the Ladybugs is the story of Mi’kmaq Elder Phyllis Googoo’s journey from 1948 as a frightened 4-year-old at the Shubenacadie Residential School in Nova Scotia, (the only residential school in Atlantic Canada) to sharing her story of survival with the Pope in Rome in 2022. As a child, she was forbidden to speak her language. To preserve it, she secretly spoke Mi’kmaq to the ladybugs. Phyllis never lost her language. She raised her children to be fluent speakers and taught Mi’kmaq at We’koqma’q Mi’kmaw School in We’koqma’q First Nation, Cape Breton Nova Scotia. This creative collaboration between Phyllis and Halifax filmmaker Ann Verrall, was inspired by Phyllis’ deep desire to share her story so that there will be greater understanding of today’s Indigenous youth.