Semaine du chemin secret

Octobre 17 – 22

Qu'est-ce que la semaine du chemin secret ?

Secret Path Week is a national movement commemorating the legacies of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack. Octobre 17th and 22nd respectively mark the dates that Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack joined the spirit world.

In 1966, Chanie Wenjack ran away from Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in Kenora, Ontario. He walked for 36 hours along the train tracks before dying of exposure on Octobre 22. He was just 12 years old.

His death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in the residential school system. Chanie’s story, tragically, is like so many stories of Indigenous children in this country.

This is one of the only photos ever taken of Chanie.

Chanie is gone, but his story endures in Gord Downie’s album Secret Path.

We invite all people in Canada to use Secret Path Week to answer Gord Downie’s call to action, to Do Something to move reconciliation forward.

#ThisIsChanie

This #SecretPathWeek, we invite you to honour Chanie Wenjack’s legacy by sharing this new portrait to raise awareness for our true history. #DoSomething

“Chanie

Chanie Wenjack. Say his name.

Chanie’s body was described in the papers following his death as grey and thin. Even in the most recognizable photo of him smiling and leaning against a wall, we see him in black and white only. We remember him without colour, lacking vibrancy, his life taken.

But Chanie did live. He lived and ran and laughed in a full spectrum of energetic colours and experiences, like any little boy would. He ran so hard to escape the dark place that stole the life and colour of all our children.

We remember him. We remember them.

While their bodies lay in the dark corners that haunt us today, their spirits soar high in all of their playful innocence.

We remember them.

We remember him.

Fly high Chanie.”

Artwork by Blake Angeconeb (@blakeangeconeb)

Poem by Danielle H. Morrison (@niiyobinaasiik)

#DoSomething to Move Reconciliation Forward this Secret Path Week

A reconciliACTION is a meaningful action that moves reconciliation forward. ReconciliACTIONs aim to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together in the spirit of reconciliation to create awareness, share, and learn. Take ReconciliACTION in your community this Secret Path Week.

Support the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Your donation contributes to reconciliation in Canada by supporting programs, campaigns, and events that serve to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and communities together.

Online donations of $5.00 or more are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

To donate by mail, please make cheques payable to ‘Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund’ and mail them to PO Box 749, Ohsweken, ON NOA 1M0

Donations of $10.00 or more received by mail are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

If you are having issues with our online form or do not receive a confirmation email, please contact jenna@downiewenjack.ca.

Témoignages

"J'ai le sentiment que nous devons tous " faire quelque chose " afin de mettre en lumière cette partie sombre de l'histoire du Canada.

Tant d'entre nous ne sont pas conscients des circonstances, de l'incroyable souffrance et de la dévastation que le système des pensionnats a causées aux familles autochtone . Non seulement ces familles ont été déchirées, et des modes de vie détruits, mais nous, en tant que Canadiens, avons été privés de la connaissance d'une si belle culture."

Sonia D'AloisioFondatrice de So Hip It Hurts, partenaire de Legacy Space

"Pas moins de 10 000 personnes par jour visitent la bibliothèque Killam - étudiants, personnel, professeurs et membres de la communauté - ce qui en fait l'un des endroits les plus fréquentés du campus. Cet endroit très fréquenté est un rappel quotidien constant de l'histoire tragique de Chanie Wenjack."

Donna Bourne-TysonBibliothécaire de l'université de Dalhousie, partenaire de Legacy Space

"Une nuit incroyable et un merveilleux hommage à #GordDownie et #TragicallyHip. Une belle façon de célébrer Gord, @thehipdotcom et @downiewenjack. Des messages très forts ont été reçus et les performances et discours étaient stellaires. Merci !"

- Membre du public lors de l'événement LEGACY : A Tribute to Gord Downie and Legacy Space Launch du Burlington Performing Arts Centre.

DONNEZ

Fonds Gord Downie et Chanie Wenjack

Numéro d'organisme de bienfaisance enregistré : 784055915RR0001

Politique de confidentialité

À propos de DWF

Inspiré par l'histoire de Chanie et par l'appel de Gord à construire un Canada meilleur, le Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund vise à favoriser la compréhension culturelle et à créer une voie vers la réconciliation entre les peuples autochtone et nonautochtone . Notre objectif est d'améliorer la vie des gens de autochtone en favorisant la sensibilisation, l'éducation et les liens entre tous les peuples du Canada.

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Prendre contact

Téléphone : 1-844-944-4545

Courriel : staff@downiewenjack.ca

Adresse :
PO BOX 749
OHSWEKEN, ON
N0A1M0