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
The final report has been delivered in 2015. Where are we today? This was a video used in one of the lesson plans for teaching using Gord Downie’s “The Secret Path” and it quite powerful. How much has changed in 6 years? It took 6 years for the commission to issue the 94 Calls To Action and now 6 years later, where are we? What a powerful piece of research for students.
The Secret Path is a story that was written about Chanie Wenjack and Gord Downie played music and helped write. This is a CBC short documentary about the work the www.downiewenjack.ca foundation is working on with a lens to Truth and Reconciliation.
A group of grade 5 students worked through the educational package on the Chaney Wenjack, and made art, stories and letters to give to Chaney’s surviving sisters on a visit. One of the most powerful moments were of a young girl describing her picture “Blue is the sadness, red is the madness and black is the darkness and dying part”.
The Wenjack story is heavy material, and the sisters were concerned that it was too heavy for young kids but the teacher wanted to make sure they could take something away with them and that they could do something in their lives to bring about change.
If you have not heard the Chaney Wenjack animated story I will add it to my next post.