Downie’s Secret Path launches in Ottawa
Family of boy at centre of tribute will attend shows on his life, residential schools
OTTAWA— When Pearl Achneepineskum stands on the stage to sing with Gord Downie during his solo concert in remembrance of her brother, Chanie Wenjack, she will be faced with a million emotions.
But nervousness will not be one of them.
“I’m ready,” said Achneepineskum backstage at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa after an emotional smudge ceremony was held with members of her family, Downie’s family and Algonquin residential school survivors from the Ottawa area. Achneepineskum is not a professional musician. She has never played at a concert of this size, but she is ready to tell the world about her brother.
Twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack froze to death on railroad tracks outside Kenora, northern Ontario, 50 years ago this Oct. 22.
Downie, Canada’s beloved music icon and frontman for the Tragically Hip, is gripped by Chanie’s story and the fact that many Canadians were unaware of the country’s residential school history.
Downie is remembering Chanie through his Secret Path initiative, a multimedia release of a graphic novel, album and animated film adaptation, aimed at teaching Canadians about Chanie’s story and the legacy of residential schools.
Downie will play two sold out Secret Path shows, the first one here in Ottawa and the second this Friday in Toronto.
Downie invited all of Wenjack’s extended family to come to the concerts. More than a dozen family members flew in from Thunder Bay and points north.
For nearly 130 years, 150,000 First Nations kids were sent away from their parents and communities to attend 140 government funded, church run residential schools. Nearly 4,000 children never made it home.
Alvin Fiddler, grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation — 49 First Nations in northern Ontario including Marten Falls — flew to Ottawa to be part of the concert and to support the Wenjack family.
“This is going to be a very emotional and difficult night, with a lot of mixed emotions knowing the 50th anniversary of his passing is coming soon. But what Gord is doing with the Secret Path is a very healing ceremony, not just for the Wenjack family but for everyone who lost loved ones during the residential experience,” Fiddler said.