Hollow Water

More than a decade ago, members of a tiny Ojibway reserve on the shores of Lake Winnipeg set out to take justice into their own hands. Hollow Water, in Central Manitoba, is home to 450 people--many of them victims of sexual abuse. The offenders have left a legacy of pain and denial, addiction and suicide. By law, they were the responsibility of the Manitoba justice system. But jail had not stopped offenders in the past. "Punishing people and telling them they needed to heal, didn't make sense," says one community counsellor. Instead, Hollow Water chose to bring the offenders home to face justice in a community healing and sentencing circle. Based on traditional practices, this unique model is reuniting families and healing both victims and their offenders. Hollow Water documents the moving journey of one family, torn apart by years of abuse, who struggle to confront their past. This is a powerful tribute to one community's ability to heal and change.