Wenjack and Downie legacy lives on through the Secret Path Curriculum Resource at Trent University

By Rick Garrick

PETERBOROUGH—The Secret Path Curriculum Resource, based on the late Gord Downie’s Secret Path graphic novel about the story of Chanie Wenjack, was launched on Jan. 19 at Trent University in Peterborough.

“When you talk about this curriculum, I emphasize the need for culture and language in our schools for our students but also for our non-Native students to learn about what happened to their peers,” says Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox. “I want them to understand that many of them are second generation, third generation residential school survivors. So this is a great tool, this is a great vision that Gord and the Wenjack family had, and on behalf of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, I want to thank the Downie family for what Gord did. It was that star power that enabled him to bring this to light, to the forefront of international news. It wouldn’t be where it is today without him.”

Downie, a member of the Tragically Hip who died in 2017, released the Secret Path graphic novel, music and animated film in 2016 with the support of NAN and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Wenjack died in 1966 while attempting to walk home from residential school along a railway track in northwestern Ontario.

“As we launched this curriculum we remember the love and determination of both Chanie Wenjack and Gord Downie, whose individual journeys ended with their legacies intertwined in such a unique and meaningful way to reveal the truth about the Indian residential school system,” Deputy Grand Chief Fox says. “We thank the Wenjack and Downie families for supporting the development of this resource that will allow educators and students to understand the tragedy of residential schools and the inter-generational effects. We are grateful for their efforts and all those who worked so hard to make this possible.”

The Secret Path Teacher and Protocol Resource documents are designed to provide educators across the province with tools to appropriately use the Secret Path in classrooms. The Teacher Resource Document includes curriculum linked, age and grade appropriate lessons and the Protocol Guide Supportive Document is designed to enhance teacher confidence and competency in the instructional delivery of the history of First Nations and the impacts of the residential school system on First Nations people.

“This [project] would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the Creator,” says Pearl Achneepineskum, Chanie’s sister. “He knew I wanted to tell the story right after Chanie passed, but in his wisdom, he held on to it until 50 years later. I still don’t really understand why, but I think it was because that was when people would grasp the idea.”

Achneepineskum adds that people ask her why the Tragically Hip was involved in the project.

“That is another choice that the Creator took in his own hands,” Achneepineskum says. “The Tragically Hip worked on this project of Chanie way before it became public. Those were his fans.”

Patrick Downie says it was Gord’s instinct to pick up the pen and write the Secret Path poems that became the songs and the album and the book and the animated film and the project and the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund.

“None of that could be done without the care and the conviction and the passion and the beauty of the Wenjacks and how they wanted to represent their brother and what they wanted Gord and Chanie to represent to this country,” Patrick says. “It is incredibly important work, the most important work that this country has to address.”

Webstreams of the launch are available on the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Downie Wenjack Fund Facebook pages.