It is Secret Path Week, and it’s to commemorate the lives of Chanie Wenjack and Gord Downie. Today, St. Vincent de Paul school in Strathroy will take part in Walk for Wenjack, says grade 3 teacher and Indigenous Education lead Chantal Baird.
All 215 staff and students will take part in the walk for Wenjack. Everyone will walk 3km to add up to 600km, the same amount as Wenjack’s walk home.
Chanie Wenjack was an Anishinaabe boy born in Ogoki Post on the Marten Falls Reserve in 1954. At 9 years old he was sent to Cecilia Jeffery residential school in Kenora Ontario. Wenjack was only 12 years old when he and 9 others fled from Cecilia Jeffery. All the children but Wenjack were caught. He followed the CN Rail tracks as a guide to get back home to Ogoki Post. On October 22nd 1966, a week after he fled, Wenjack’s body was found. He had succumbed to the elements as well as starvation.
“We want to show truth and reconciliation is not just orange shirt day, it’s not just one day where we wear orange. For us it’s an ongoing conversation we have at school that we encourage our families to have at home. We try to really amplify Indigenous voices by reading Indigenous texts and stories to our students and by helping guide those discussions” says Baird.
Unfortunately due to safety reasons, others can’t join the walk. But encouragement is encouraged if you see the school out walking.
“Another way people can help is by spreading the message. Learn about the story, learn about the mission. Use the resources available to learn about residential schools and survivors” says Baird.
To donate and to learn more you can go to https://walk-for-wenjack.raisely.com/svdpstrathroy and https://downiewenjack.ca/