Journey to Little Rock: The Untold Story of Minnijean Brown Trickey

When Minnijean Brown Trickey was sixteen years old, she became involved in one of the most significant acts in the history of the American civil rights movement. She was one of The Little Rock Nine - the nine Black American teenagers who defied death threats, hostile white demonstrators, and even the Arkansas National Guard, to attend the all-white Little Rock Central High in 1957. Minnijean's story did not end there. Little Rock was only the first step. Her amazing journey of the heart, mind, and spirit lead her to Canada where she continued her activism in supporting Native Peoples struggles for rights.

The film follows her life of passionate social activism. She and her husband were active in the student nonviolence movement, promoting peace and civil rights. They later moved to Canada during the Vietnam War when her husband was refused the status of a conscientious objector. She settled in Northern Ontario, farmed and raised six children. There she continued her activism supporting Native people's struggles for their rights, protesting to save the environment, and working for equality for all. In 1997, she journeyed to Little Rock to join in the commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the Little Rock Nine. In 1999, Minnijean and the other Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Produced by Maria Yongmee Shin, North East Productions
Directed by Rob Thompson
Developed in association with The National Film Board of Canada