The Good Canadian Exposes the Truth behind the Idea of a True North, Strong and Free
The world knows the image of the good Canadian. But what if there was a dark secret behind a national identity?
The Good Canadian challenges national mythmaking, while offering Canadians the chance to forge a new identity from the truth. In this unflinching and eye-opening documentary, directors Leena Minifie and David Paperny move us behind the curtain and into the corridors of systemic inequity — from the Indian Act to residential schools, to modern-day family separation — to reveal the true face of a nation.
Part investigation, part real-life horror story, part national reckoning, the film is told through the voices of those working on the frontlines of a destructive, racist system.
Fusing shocking footage with detailed interviews with experts, advocates, whistleblowers and politicians.
The Trailer
The Interview on APTN News with the Co-Directors
APTN News spoke with co-directors Leena Minifie and David Paperny on September 29, 2025.
The premiere date was September 30th 2025, on National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada, on the streaming channel of @aptntv
APTN is the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world, with programming by, for and about Indigenous Peoples, to share with all Canadians as well as viewers around the world. Through documentaries, news magazines, dramas, entertainment specials, children’s series, cooking shows and education programs, APTN offers all Canadians a window into the remarkably diverse worlds of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and throughout the world.
The Gallery of Human Migration chose September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to share this documentary—in recognition that this date belongs to Indigenous voices, and that our role is to amplify, not to speak over.