Behind the documentary: An interview with Melki and Pagé on ‘Butterfly’

Trigger Warning: This article discusses topics related to human trafficking and sexual exploitation which some readers may find upsetting. Resources are available at the end of this article.

TELUS Original Butterfly: The Maze of Human Trafficking, released on April 24, brings attention to human trafficking in Canada, zeroing in on cities like Edmonton and Winnipeg. Written and directed by Canadian filmmaker Viveka Melki and produced by Melki Films, the documentary is available to stream for free on TELUS.

This is Melki’s third film focusing on sex trafficking in Canada: “We made Trafficked Voices for the CBC, which is on CBC Gem, and then we made La Plaque Tournante, which is on trafficking out of Quebec. And then Butterfly was happening all at the same time,” Melki recapped.

Butterfly introduces the audience to three Canadian women: Mallory, Charlie, and Raine. They ultimately become the viewers’ eyes into the world of human trafficking.  

In an interview with both Melki and Staff Sergeant Frank Pagé, a deeper dive was taken into the world of human trafficking, as well as the making of such an overwhelming documentary. Pagé works as an inspector in charge of organizational Security and Threat Assessment at the University of Alberta Protective Services (UAPS). She also takes on the role of being a key collaborator in the documentary.

Regarding Melki’s motivation behind Butterfly, she cites her contact with social workers who, as teens, had been trafficked without their knowledge. Most “thought it was a specific event that involved sexual exploitation, but they didn’t realize they had actually been sold,” Melki explained.

This documentary would not have been possible without the collaboration with grassroots Indigenous advocates, Melki said whom she credits with “shaping the whole documentary.” 

She expressed deep appreciation for the Indigenous Elder teachings that influenced her. She said that she has always been “influenced by [her] great-grandmother, who is Indigenous from Brazil.”  

When it came to Butterfly, she found herself fortunate to work with Indigenous grandmothers from across Canada. Melki pointed out that during their discussions and consultations on human trafficking, they observed that it’s often the grandmothers in the community who communicate with teens, making them a crucial link in addressing the issue. Melki emphasized that they intentionally supported the grandmother narrative in Indigenous communities after recognizing their vital role.

“Many of these survivors think they’re alone in that whole world they’re trapped in,” Pagé says

“In the film, Charlie’s grandmother is the strongest link. I have a strong belief in the connection between grandmothers and teens, as in the teachings of the medicine wheel,” Melki said.

She described herself as a “point-of-view director,” clarifying that she’s “not doing journalism. It’s [her] point of view, which is transferred into all these projects.”

Melki said this commitment is reflected in an ethical storytelling policy that guides all of the production house’s work. This framework, Melki noted, took seven months to develop.

A key topic in the documentary is the trauma bond.The film highlights how traffickers exploit emotional vulnerabilities. Pagé provided critical insights into steps people can take to protect themselves from abuse and avoid being preyed upon.

“The biggest thing we have to do as a society is start talking about it,” Pagé stressed. “We have to shed light on all of the issues, the dynamics, the vulnerabilities, the predators, and, most importantly, on how to rescue and reach survivors so they know they’re not alone.”

The documentary draws parallels between the silence surrounding human trafficking today and the stigma that once shrouded intimate partner violence. “Many of these survivors think they’re alone in that whole world they’re trapped in,” Page said.

“It reminds me of 20 years ago when we started talking about intimate partner violence, and everybody hid what was happening in their homes. This is the same thing. That’s why I was so impassioned to partner with Melki. We need to start talking about these dynamics, especially with our kids,” Page stated.

One of the documentary’s most disturbing revelations is how child welfare systems and group homes can become sites of trafficking. Survivors like Charlie and Raine were betrayed by the very institutions meant to protect them.

“The system is trying, but it’s a net with too many holes,” Melki said. “Foster homes lack counseling, teachers are overburdened, and kids are afraid to speak up. We need more trauma-informed care and better support for frontline workers,” she added.

“It’s really hard to change the narrative. We like the narrative. The narratives make us feel safe and it takes courage to change it,” Melki said

“Systemic racism plays a role,” Melki pointed out. “When Indigenous girls go missing or are trafficked, it doesn’t get the same attention. We don’t want to believe this darkness exists in our communities, but it’s everywhere — campuses, bus stations, even local bars.” 

“I just wanted to add to the discussion, help one person at a time and keep going,” Melki says

The filmmakers argue that prevention is key. “This film should be in every school. We need to teach kids about healthy relationships, red flags, and the tactics traffickers use,” Melki stated.

Pagé criticized how much of the system is based on labelling individuals. As she puts it, “we need to stop being so prescriptive and start being more inclusive.”

On victims reclaiming hope and identity, Page stated that “the first step is honouring and valuing what they have been through and letting them know that this is not the roadblock in their life, this is a big speed bump that can be completely overcome.”

When asked about what lasting impression they wish for the audience to gain from viewing the documentary, Meliki summarized it all in one word: “change.” 

“I just wanted to add to the discussion, help one person at a time and keep going,” Melki said.

She hopes that the film can educate people on the intensive and influential networks that exist in their own neighbourhoods.

---

If you or someone you know is dealing with human trafficking you can call the Canada Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010. You can find their website and more resources here. Further resources can be found here.