Tag Archives: Chanie Wenjack

Module #4 Post #2 – Lesson Plans to Teach The Secret Path

Please take these attachments and use them to guide. There are others on the website for downiewenjack.ca and you can adapt and plan. The lessons are divided into four themes: Awareness, Acknowledgment,
Atonement, and Action. There is a lesson plan and accompanying powerpoint to teach the lesson along with websites and links that are still active.

https://dwf-dev.editmy.website/learning/secret-path-junior-high-lesson-plans

Module #3 Post #5 – 1967 post Chanie (Charlie) Wenjack

https://www.macleans.ca/society/the-lonely-death-of-chanie-wenjack/

The story was first published in 1967 about Chanie Wenjack. His teachers had mislabeled him as Charlie. The story was by Ian Adams and published on February 1, 1967. Chanie was 12, and Indigenous. He died as the white world’s rules had forced him to live—cut off from his people.

By Ian Adams February 1, 1967

Chanie ran away with two other friends and sought refuge with the friends. Because their house was full and their means small, Chanie was subtly encouraged to leave. He died October 22, 1966. He likely died of hypothermia and was found October 23, 1966. At a hearing about the death, the jury at the time made the following recommendations.

After spending more than two hours deliberating, they produced a written verdict and recommendations that covered one, long, closely written page of the official form. The jury found that “the Indian education system causes tremendous emotional and adjustment problems.” They suggested that the school be staffed adequately so that the children could develop personal relationships with the staff, and that more effort be given to boarding children in private homes.

But the most poignant suggestion was the one that reflected their own bewilderment: “A study be made of the present Indian education and philosophy. Is it right?”

What makes me sad is that they knew in 1967 that this wasn’t ok. That residential schools did more harm than good. There were people speaking up like the part-time employee in the grocery store who said it was “us who did this to them.” So why on earth has it taken so long to tell the stories and to get people to listen? Why did the TRC take so long? Why wasn’t something “done about it” so long ago? And now, what can we do about it now that we know better?

Module 3 Post #4 – The Secret Path – Gord Downie

https://gem.cbc.ca/media/the-secret-path/season-1/episode-1/38e815a-00b11deb591

THE SECRET PATH

If you have not heard the CBC animated film from Gord Downie that tells the true story of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old boy who died while trying to escape from a residential school and travel back home.

This is a 60-minute documentary that was driven by his sisters Daisy and Pearl Wenjack to help them tell Chanie’s story. “Who would have thought the Tragically Hip”.

The story is of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack who ran away from a residential school in 1966 to try and travel over 600 kilometres home by following the railway tracks. He had some matches with him. When he ran away it was October and he was found dead on the railway tracks. This is his story as told by his family and music supplied by Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip.