On Thursday, October 19th, approximately 700 students from local schools, teachers and members of the community gathered at the gazebo in Kinsmen Park to take part in the Walk for Wenjack for Secret Path Week, which took place from October 17-22.
“The City was very honoured to be asked to be part of this initiative and welcome the opportunity to support reconciliation within the community of Martensville. We are pleased to be able to help raise awareness of Secret Path Week and the Walk for Wenjack as well as honour the residential school students, survivors and their families,” Angie Reddekopp, City of Martensville Program Coordinator, stated.
This national movement has been taking place since 2016 and was created in honour of Chanie Wenjack and Gord Downie and Secret Path Week is set on two significant dates, the dates that Wenjack and Downie each passed away.
In October of 1966, at the age of 12, Wenjack ran away from a residential school in Kenora, Ontario and decided to walk home; however, home was approximately 600 kms away. Sadly, Wenjack did not make it home and perished due to exposure after walking for 36 hours. Wenjack’s death sparked an inquiry about the treatment of children in residential schools across the country.
Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip, often wrote about social justice issues in his songs, and created the album ‘Secret Path’, along with a graphic novel, which was later made into a movie, inspired by Wenjack’s story.
During the October 19th event, Métis Elder Andre Letendre shared his personal story about his own reconciliation with the crowd and talked about what reconciliation truly means, encouraging the youth in attendance to share the lessons they learned with those around them in hopes of being able to spread awareness. Letendre noted that the subject of residential schools was not talked about for so many years and how it is finally being taught in schools and the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, capable of changing Canada.
“It takes a lot of courage to put action into the words. It takes a lot of courage to speak the truth and even more courage to put action to that truth,” Letendre said. “You are the future and I ask you to go home, talk to your parents, and ask them what the history of Canada is. If every one of you went home and did as I ask, then there would be action. There would be real action.”
To learn more about Secret Path Week and the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, visit https://downiewenjack.ca/.
