Chanie was a 12-year-old Anishinaabe boy from Marten Falls First Nation who was taken from his family and sent to the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ontario. In 1966, he ran away in an attempt to return home to his family. He never made it. Chanie’s story was brought to a wider audience through Secret Path, prompting many people to learn about his life and the history of residential schools for the first time. Today, Chanie’s story reminds us of the children, families, and communities whose lives continue to be impacted by the residential school system and other colonial policies. Chanie joined the spirit world on October 22, 1966, and Gord on October 17, 2017. Together, these dates bookend Secret Path Week and give us an opportunity to remember both Gord and Chanie while continuing the work that Secret Path helped inspire. #ChanieWenjack #SecretPath

October 17, 2017, marks the day Gord Downie joined the spirit world. Best known as the frontman of The Tragically Hip, Gord was a celebrated Canadian artist who used his voice to draw attention to the history of residential schools and call on all people to take action toward reconciliation. This clip, from the documentary "Finding The Secret Path"(available on the DWF YouTube channel) features the voice of Perry Bellegarde, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. downiewenjack.ca/sp10/ #GordDownie #SecretPathWeek #DownieWenjackFund