Older Than America

The film introduces the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation and nearby Cloquet, setting the stage for three interconnected stories rooted in the community's history and present. It hints at hidden trauma from a past involving a now-abandoned Catholic boarding school where many children suffered. The narrative begins to explore the region's layered history connected to indigenous experiences and unresolved secrets.

Rain and Johnny, a teacher and police officer respectively, have been living together off the reservation for ten years. Johnny announces his acceptance into the FBI training program in Washington, D.C., prompting the couple to consider marriage. Rain hesitates due to her mother's mental health struggles and her own upcoming move.

Rain gets into a car accident after avoiding children in the road, leading her to an emergency. She confides in Johnny about seeing unexplainable visions and fears she may be following her mother's mental health path. Her condition worsens, and she is transferred to a psychiatric institution for evaluation.

Rain begins experiencing visions of children running around who are actually spirits of murdered children from the boarding school era. Through investigations and visions, she uncovers the disturbing history of abuse and kidnapping at the now-abandoned school. She realizes these spirits seek justice and closure for their suffering.

Luke Patterson, a geologist, arrives on the reservation to investigate a reported rare earthquake. Johnny assists him in obtaining permits, and Luke begins learning about the area’s geology and history. His inquiry hints at underlying geological instabilities connected to the community's past.

During his stay, Luke bonds with Johnny and his family, gaining insight into the reservation's past abuses, especially the boarding school’s dark history. His investigations reveal potential geological links to the unsettled ground, symbolizing the community’s buried trauma.

Steve Klamath launches his bid for mayor against longstanding incumbent Paul Gunderson. Steve aims to represent indigenous rights from within the political system, but faces skepticism from both Native and non-Native voters. His campaign becomes a battleground of cultural and political tensions.

As the campaign unfolds, Native residents show apathy toward voting, while non-Natives view Steve’s progressive policies with hostility. The political struggle highlights deeper divisions within the community over land, culture, and future development.

Radio host Richard Two Rivers gives airtime to Steve’s campaign, serving as a key voice for the reservation. Though publicly supportive, Richard’s true motives and background are complex, adding layers to the political narrative and community influence.

As uncovering truths about the boarding school’s atrocities progresses, the community faces its collective trauma. Rain's spiritual visions and Luke's geological findings intertwine, pushing toward confronting past abuses for eventual healing.

The film converges as spirits of the murdered children demand justice, and the community begins to acknowledge its hidden history. The characters’ journeys culminate in collective acknowledgment and the hope for reconciliation and understanding.

In the aftermath, characters contemplate the importance of facing and healing from the traumas buried deep in their history. The story leaves open the possibility of moving forward with awareness, justice, and cultural preservation.