Now it felt as if a part of me was dying with every strand that fell.” “Back home, long hair was a source of pride. I am Not a Number– Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer This would be a great companion to Secret Path. This book focuses on the spirits of the forest who accompany him on his journey, sometimes to torment but ultimately to bring him comfort. Other new books on Truth and Reconciliation:Ĭoincidentally, Scotiabank Giller Prize–winning author Joseph Boyden’s (Three Day Road, The Orenda) new short MG novel (112 pages) tells the same story of Chanie Wenjack – his escape from a residential school and his long walk home through the forests of Northern Canada. Read more about Downie’s project here. Watch the official book trailer for Secret Path here. Gordon Downie has gifted us with a legacy of indelible music and lyrics and now has gifted us with this powerful story of Chanie Wenjack. His generosity, care, and deep humility, even in the face of his own death qualifies him. His strong desire to raise awareness of this critically important issue that he describes as “not an aboriginal problem this is a Canadian problem” qualifies him. His extraordinary gift of words and powerful poetic voice qualifies him. His deep compassion for Chanie Wenjack, for his family and community qualifies him. Is Gordon Downie ”qualified” to write this story even though he is not of aboriginal descent? I believe he is. Proceeds from this book and album will go to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the residential school system. Students will connect to him, ache for him and learn from him. But this is a book we truly all need to buy and share with our students because Chanie Wenjack’s story needs to be told. I know that I often make the comment “This is a MUST HAVE book!” in my blog posts. What I have since learned was that Downie was referring to the dark chapter in Canada’s history when more than 150,000 First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children were placed in government-funded residential schools. (But) we’re going to get it fixed and we got the guy to do it, to start, to help.” At the time, I was not sure what he was talking about, but I was curious. “It’s maybe worse than it’s ever been, so it’s not on the improve. Trudeau was in the crowd watching the concert and Downie spoke directly to him about Canada’s “dark past” and about trying to help fix the problems in Northern Canada. My TV is set.įor those of you who watched the Tragically Hip’s bittersweet farewell concert this summer, in the midst of all the hit songs, you may remember Downie’s plea and comments to our prime minister, Justin Trudeau. We are not the country we thought we were.” A documentary film about Downie’s heartfelt project and visit to Chanie Wenjack’s family in Marten Falls will air on CBC on Oct. “I never knew Chanie, but I will always love him,” Downie said in an interview. Downie learned of Chanie’s story, who was misnamed Charlie by his teachers, from a 1967 Maclean’s magazine article. Chanie died beside railroad tracks after escaping from the school and trying to walk to his home more than 600 kilometres away. Secret Pathis a graphic novel Downie wrote to honor and shed light on the story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack, who died in 1966 after running away from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ont. Gordon Downie, iconic front man for the Tragically Hip and who is suffering from terminal brain cancer, will release his first book called Secret Paththis coming Tuesday, October 18th. (Downie’s new album, Secret Path, will be released on the same day). It’s Monday and I’m happy to be participating in a weekly event with a community of bloggers who post reviews of books that they have read the previous week. Check out more IMWAYR posts here: Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers
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