Bruce County and the Neyaashiinigmiing Adult Learning Centre is hosting two "Walks for Wenjack" during Secret Path Week later this month, to raise awareness of the true history of residential schools.
This is the third year the organizations have collaborated together on these events meant to honour Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack, as well as encourage steps toward reconciliation.
"So October 17th and October 22nd are the respective dates that Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack joined the spirit world," said Matthew Meade, Manager of Government Relations at Bruce County. "So the Downie-Wenjack Fund, as part of Secret Path Week, invites all people in Canada to use the week to answer Gord Downie's call to do something to move reconciliation forward."
One Walk for Wenjack was already held in Cape Croker Park on August 15.
Two more are planned during Secret Path week, one in Wiarton on October 18 at Bluewater Park and Southampton on October 21 at Fairy Lake Pavilion. Both free events get underway at 1 p.m.
Byron Millette the Adult Learning Centre coordinator of Neyaashiinigmiing, says the week has a purpose of informing everyone of the trauma of residential schools.
"Ultimately, it's awareness, and that's all Gord really wanted," he said. "The guy was battling terminal brain cancer, but when he found out from his brother, about Chanie having to walk from that school, he knew that this was important, that Canada was not the country we all thought with what was happening at these schools."
Wenjack died in 1966, after a 36 hour walk trying to return from a residential school in Kenora. Downie wrote about Wenjack's tragic journey, and "the Secret Path" ended up being the final album released during his lifetime. It has since been adapted into an animated film using Jeff Lemire's graphic novel.
That film will be screened twice at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre on Monday, October 21, as part of Secret Path Week.
Admission is free, but donations to the Nawash food bank will be accepted
"These events are a great opportunity to meet new people, to reflect and to take some time to work towards reconciliation. I think supporting the Nawash food bank is a way for all of us to take immediate action to help meet local needs," said Meade. "Providing a non-perishable food item and coming out to join one of these walks, take in a screening or both, is an easy way to positively contribute to reconciliation."
Millette says Neyaashiinigmiing is trying to establish a new local food bank. Right now they're using the community centre, so any donations will go a long way.
"The need has always been there, but COVID has even made it greater," he said. "We couldn't use our community centre for community events for a while. Now we're made a little better, but it would make more sense to have our own building for that."
To learn more about Secret Path Week, visit the Bruce County Museum website.