At Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre on Monday, October 21st, the Bruce Power theatre was filled to capacity throughout the day as local Grade 6 students from area schools, along with the public, attended the screening of ‘The Secret Path’: The Journey of Chanie Wenjack by Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip Canadian Rock group.
Anyone who has been in a group of Grade 6 students and their high energy, knows it can be a daunting experience, but at the screening in memory of Chanie Wenjack and Director/Producer of the film, musician Gord Downie, the students were riveted in complete silence. They absorbed the life of Chanie Wenjack and seemed to completely understand his life experience in a residential school and his desire to return home to his family. For many adults in the audience, the powerful film brought many tears.
The documentary by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Foundation is part of Gord Downie’s legacy and embodies his commitment, and that of his family, to improving lives of First Nations peoples in Canada.
In collaboration with the Wenjack Family, the goal of the Foundation is to continue the conversation that began with Chanie Wenjack’s residential school story, and to aid in the collective reconciliation journey through awareness, education, and action. The goal of these events is to move reconciliation forward by bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together to share and learn.
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In Bruce County, ‘Walks for Wenjack’ events were hosted in partnership with Cape Croker Park, Kitaamgwedaagwad Gindasswin Adult Learning Centre, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Chief & Council, Bruce County Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, Bruce Power and Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
Held at Cape Croker Park, Neyaashiinigmiing, on August 15th, at Bluewater Park in Wiarton and, finally, at Fairy Lake Pavilion in Southampton on October 21st, walks were held to not only raise awareness but to also raise support for the Nawash Food Bank as it looks to expanding its facility.
“We are thankful for these events in memory of Gord and his legacy, and of Chanie,” said Byron Millette.
