The brothers of the late Gord Downie got a first hand look at how his graphic novel, 'The Secret Path' is teaching students at three southwestern Ontario schools about harmful residential schools and the importance of truth and reconciliation.
Mike and Patrick Downie visited Central Public School in Woodstock, Antler River Elementary School in Chippewa of the Thames, and Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary School in London on Friday. The schools are among several within the London District Catholic School Board and the Thames Valley District School Board that have signed up to become Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund Legacy Schools.
Educational programming at the schools is centred around the Tragically Hip frontman's Secret Path works, which tell the story of Chanie Wenjack, a 12 year-old Indigenous boy who died after running away from a residential school.
Students shared with the Downie brothers presentations they had compiled, songs they had written, and paintings they had created based on what they learned about the dark time in Canada's history.
"It's been quite touching and very moving. It is wonderful to see the impact that the book, record, and animated film had on these kids," said Patrick Downie. "It has been a great vehicle for them to learn about the true history of Canada."
After learning about the history of Canada's residential school system, students committed to acts of #reconciliACTION in their community. The call to action goes back to Gord Downie calling on the nation to "do something" to help make reconciliation a reality.
"I'm in my 50s, Gord would have turned 55 two days ago. We weren't taught these stories in school the way these kids are being taught today and it gives me hope that in future generations there is going to be a greater appreciation of what Indigenous people have had to endure," said Mike Downie. "Our country isn't an immigrant society. A lot of us are from other places, but not all of us. We have just happened to have ignored the people who were here the longest."
Gord Downie died in October 2017 after a more than year long battle with brain cancer. The Secret Path was among his final works.
