MARTEN FALLS FIRST NATION -- Gord Downie may be dying, but he's still trying to make a difference.
The Tragically Hip lead singer spent time this week in Marten Falls, Ont., where on Friday he revealed details of a new multimedia project that aims to tell the tragic story of a First Nation youth who died during the residential school era.
Secret Path, a project that will include an album, graphic novel and an animated film, is dedicated to the life of Charlie (Chanie) Wejack, who died on Oct. 22, 1966 walking along railroad tracks, trying to return 1,000 kilometres home to Ogoki Post, Ont. after fleeing the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora.
His body was found 60 kilometres from the schoo, several days after he fled.
Downie, diagnosed earlier this year with an incurable, likely terminal form of brain cancer, visited the boy’s grave in Marten Falls and met with surviving family members.
First introduced to the story by his brother Mike, Downie in a statement said Chanie Wenjack’s tale continues to haunt him to this day. He had written several poems, which he turned into songs for the album portion of the project.
“His story is Canada’s story. This is about Canada. We are not the country we thought we were. History will be re-written. We are all accountable, but this begins in the late 1800s and goes to 1996. ‘White’ Canada knew – on somebody’s purpose – nothing about this. We weren’t taught it; it was hardly ever mentioned,” Downie said in a statement released on Friday.
The 52-year-old Kingston, Ont. singer accused governments and churches of misusing themselves during this period in Canadian history.
“They hurt many children. They broke up many families. They erased entire communities. It will take seven generations to fix this. Seven. Seven is not arbitrary. This is far from over. Things up north have never been harder. Canada is not Canada. We are not the country we think we are,” said Downie, noting even as a child he never thought of Canada as a country and that he believes the next 100 years will be painful as the nation comes to know more Chanie Wenjacks.
“As we find out about ourselves, about all of us – but only when we do can we truly call ourselves, ‘Canada.”
Downie was joined in Marten Falls by Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, and Keewatinowi Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson of Manitoba. Both praised the singer for his efforts to bring the Chanie Wenjack’s story to the national stage. Fiddler said he hopes it becomes a call to action that will resonate with all Canadians.
“We are grateful for Gord’s efforts to shine much-needed light on this dark chapter of history and his humility, sincerity and artistry is matched only by his determination to tell the story of Charlie Wenjack and all youth from the residential school era who never made it home,” Fiddler said in a NAN-issued statement.
“We are confident that this project will spark national interest in our shared history and help move all Canadians towards the path to reconciliation.”
Downie was presented with a beaded vest by Marten Falls Chief Bruce Achneepineskum at a ceremony honouring his visit, an eagle feather from Wilson and a blanket and beaded medallion from Fiddler.
Chanie Wenjack's tale was first told in a Maclean’s magazine piece in 1967 and was the subject of a Heritage Minute released this summer by Historica Canada.
Proceeds from the project will be donated to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba.
