The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
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Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • Secret Path
    • Reconciliation Begins With You Video Series
    • FAQs
    • Careers
  • Programs
    • Legacy Schools Program
      • Legacy Schools Resources
      • Legacy School reconciliACTIONs
      • Register your School
      • Subscribe to Legacy Schools Newsletter
      • Update Educator Contact Information
    • Artist Ambassador Program
    • Youth Ambassador Program
      • Apply to Youth Ambassador Program
      • Youth Ambassador Advisory Committee
      • Youth Ambassador Highlights
    • Legacy Spaces Program
    • ReconciliACTIONs
    • Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • DWF Live
    • Indigenous History Month
      • 2022 Virtual Programming
      • 2022 National Indigenous Peoples Day
      • 2021 Virtual Programming
      • 2020 Virtual Programming
    • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
      • 2022: Indigenous Perspectives on the Pope’s Apology
      • 2021: What this means for reconciliation in Canada
      • 2021: A Day for Truth and Reconciliation
    • A DAY TO LISTEN
      • 2022 A DAY TO LISTEN
      • A Day for Truth and Reconciliation
      • 2021 A DAY TO LISTEN
    • Secret Path Week
    • Walk for Wenjack
    • Secret Path Live
  • News & Publications
    • Blog
    • DWF In The News
    • 215 Pledge
    • Annual Report
    • Subscribe
  • Support Us
    • Case for Support
    • Donate
    • Third-Party Fundraisers
    • Fundraising FAQ
  • Contact Us

Case for Support

The relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada is foundational to Canada and critical to its future. 

The impact of residential schools is still felt today, affecting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people and communities, and contributing to inequalities.

Reconciliation is critical to healing this rift and enabling the wellbeing and prosperity of all peoples in Canada. 

Mission

Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Vision

Improving the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.

DWF aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.

1. 2016 Canadian Public Opinion on Aboriginal Peoples, Environics, 2016 (page 12). 2. 2016 Canadian Public Opinion on Aboriginal Peoples, Environics, 2016 (page 17). 3. National Narrative on Reconciliation Report, Reconciliation Canada, 2016.

47%

of Canadians state improved impressions of Indigenous Peoples because of increased prominence and visibility in the community, media and through education and economic advancement1

82%

of Indigenous and 69% of non-Indigenous peoples believe that Indigenous Peoples need to be more equitably represented in Canadian society when questioned about attitudes toward reconciliation 3

8 in 10

non-Indigenous Canadians agree that they would be personally interested in learning more about Indigenous cultures.2

DWF recognizes that reconciliation is not easily defined. It is not linear and does not have a clear endpoint. To us, reconciliation is a continuous process, a journey of learning and action, that leads to improved outcomes for Indigenous people and communities.

What does DWF do?

DWF provides education on the true history of Canada and the lasting impact of residential schools. DWF encourages participation in reconciliation through our programming, campaigns, partnerships and events that build awareness, education, connections. Reconciliation is not just an Indigenous issue. It is a Canadian issue.

Our work is based on the pillars of Awareness, Education, Action + Connection.

ReconciliACTIONs are meaningful actions that move reconciliation forward and aim to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together.

AWARENESS

DWF raises awareness through events and our national campaigns, Secret Path Week and Indigenous History Month. 

EDUCATION

DWF provides access to education and free resources through the Legacy Schools and Legacy Spaces programs.

ACTION & CONNECTION

DWF calls on all peoples in Canada to take action through reconciliACTIONs. 

Subscribe Donate Plan your reconciliACTION Leave your legacy Become a Legacy School Start a Legacy Space

ReconciliACTIONs are meaningful actions that move reconciliation forward and aim to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together in the spirit of reconciliation to create awareness, share and learn. They act as a catalyst for important conversations and change, and fulfill Gord’s call to action to “Do Something”. 

Legacy Schools provides free educational tools and resources to thousands of schools throughout Canada to ensure education is inclusive of the unique rights, interests and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples.  

Legacy Spaces gives corporations, government, educational institutions and other organizations a chance to play an important role in reconciliation by providing safe spaces to learn about Indigenous history and reconciliation. 

Our Impact

DWF aims to reach and inspire a wide range of peoples throughout Canada to join us on the path towards reconciliation, whether they are just starting or continuing their journey.

Since 2018, DWF has inspired thousands in Canada to take action.

Since 2018:

5,523

registered Legacy Schools with representation in every province and territory 

6,764

active Legacy Schools Educators 

18,000+

free resource toolkits and booster kits provided to Legacy Schools 

150,000+

students impacted based on an estimated reach of 25 students per educator.

54

 Legacy Spaces partners in 6 provinces and 1 territory 

31,100+

Newsletter Subscribers 

During our 2020/2021 fiscal year:

9,000+

viewers during our 4th annual Secret Path Week held between October 17-22, 2020, with 20 online events

1000+

participants in 85 Walk for Wenjack events held across Canada

5,000+ 

viewers across Canada, tuning in and connecting to watch 13 Indigenous and non-Indigenous speakers and artists featured on DWF LIVE

During our 2021/2022 fiscal year:

44,000+

viewers during our 5th annual Secret Path Week held between October 17-22, 2021, with 20 online events

27,000+

participants in 198 Walk for Wenjack events held throughout Canada

11,000+ 

viewers tuned into four Indigenous History Month events featuring more than 30 Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, speakers, and artists

Our Shared History

  • Mid 1800’s – 1996

    150,000 Indigenous children taken to Residential Schools in Canada

  • 2010

    Statement of apology to former residential school students from the Government of Canada 

    2010

  • 2015

    Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) 94 Calls to Action are released

  • 2016

    Gord Downie releases Secret Path; DWF is founded

    2016

  • 2017

    First Legacy Spaces open and Legacy Schools is developed

  • 2018

    DWF receives charitable status

    2018

  • 2020

    DWF expansion to digital programming; DWF reaches 1,000+ Legacy Schools

  • 2021

    4,800 Legacy Schools, 39 Legacy Space Partners, 2 National Movements 

    2021

  • Today

    YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS 

Help Create a Path Towards Reconciliation

@downiewenjack 

Subscribe Donate Plan your reconciliACTION Leave your legacy Become a Legacy School Start a Legacy Space

Reconciliation

What is reconciliation?

According to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. In order for that to happen, there must be awareness of the past, an acknowledgement of harm, and action to change behaviour.

DWF recognizes that reconciliation is not easily defined. It is not linear and does not have a clear endpoint. To us, reconciliation is a continuous process, a journey, that leads to improved outcomes for Indigenous people and communities.

Reconciliation begins with you. Will you start your reconciliation journey today?

TRC 94 Calls to Action

DWF provides solutions in response to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action

#62 We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in consultation and collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal peoples, and educators, to:

  • Make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students.

#63 We call upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to maintain an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including:

  • Developing and implementing Kindergarten to Grade Twelve curriculum and learning resources on Aboriginal peoples in Canadian history, and the history and legacy of residential schools.
  • Sharing information and best practices on teaching curriculum related to residential schools and Aboriginal history. Building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect.
  • Identifying teacher-training needs relating to the above.

#92 We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:

  • Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects.
  • Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.
  • Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Learn more about the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

Source: “The Two Row Wampum Belt: An Akwesasne Tradition of the Vessel and Canoe,” by D. Bonaparte, n.d., http://www.wampumchronicles.com/tworowwampumbelt.html

Learn more about the Two Row Wampum
Learn more about Treaties

TWO ROW WAMPUM

Walking Together: The Two Row Wampum – Haudenosaunee and Anishnabek

The Two Row Wampum belt is the symbolic record of the first agreement between European settlers and Indigenous people of Turtle Island, over 400 years ago. This first covenant formed the basis for the covenant chain for all subsequent treaty relationships between the Haudenosaunee and the settler governments.  Unfortunately, the settlers did not uphold their end of the agreement.

The Two Row Wampum displays a mutual commitment to:

  • Friendship
  • Peace between peoples
  • Living alongside each other

DO SOMETHING TODAY

Our supporters make our work possible.

Subscribe Donate Plan your reconciliACTION Leave your legacy Become a Legacy School Start a Legacy Space

Your support will:

  • Empower youth to lead the movement through education and awareness.
  • Provide free educational tools and resources for educators so they can bring this subject matter into the classroom in an age-appropriate and culturally sensitive way.
  • Develop tools and resources to better help businesses, educators, and community-based organizations to work with Indigenous communities at a local level.
  • Support Indigenous artists through events like DWF LIVE which highlight the diversity of Indigenous art and culture.
  • Ensure that the unique rights, interests, and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples are recognized and heard.
  • Provide opportunities for all people in Canada to begin their reconciliation journey.

For more information or to discuss partnership opportunities: Angela@downiewenjack.ca

ANNUAL REPORTS

To learn more about DWF’s impact, check out our Annual Reports

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The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Registered Charity Number: 784055915RR0001

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About DWF

Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get In Touch

Phone:  1-844-944-4545

E-mail: staff@downiewenjack.ca

Address:
PO BOX 749
OHSWEKEN, ON
N0A1M0

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