This fall, the Bruce County Museum will host numerous Walk For Wenjack events.
Cathy McGirr, Museum Director, explains that the event began in remembrance of Chanie Wenjack, an Indigenous youth who was in a residential school in Ontario and managed to escape at 12-years-old.
"Chanie basically escaped a residential school trying to get home and walked many, many kilometres on that journey, and unfortunately, he passed away on his journey trying to get back home," McGirr explained.
These events are part of a national initiative led by the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, which seeks to honour Chanie Wenjack’s memory by sparking conversation and creating awareness about the ongoing impacts of residential schools.
McGirr says the annual walks are a big part of reconciliation with Indigenous people all over Canada.
"It is a way for everybody to get together and understand the lasting impact of residential schools, and also to encourage people to take some meaningful action in regards to reconciliation. Whether that's learning more about the truth about residential schools or taking part in events," said McGirr. "Many people are still denying the truth of what happened. We need to recognize the truth and we need to do better. The issues in Indigenous communities are still happening in many places across the country."
According to a Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre press release, this year, Bruce County is "excited to expand Walk for Wenjack programming in partnership with the Municipality of Brockton and the Municipality of Kincardine, offering broader opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members to walk together in reflection, learning and remembrance."
McGirr says that work needs to continue.
"The experiences in residential schools are still causing harm today. So it's important for people to recognize that just because something happened in the past, that the past does have lasting impacts," McGirr pointed out.
Walk for Wenjack Schedule:
· Thursday, August 14 – Cape Croker Park, Neyaashiinigmiing (gather at the Arbour)
· Friday, October 17 – Wiarton, Bluewater Park
· Saturday, October 18 – Kincardine, Station Beach
· Monday, October 20 – Southampton, Fairy Lake Pavilion
· Tuesday, October 21 – Walkerton, Riverbend Park
All walks begin at 1 p.m. and are free to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. Donations to the Nawash Food Bank will be accepted onsite. The first 10 donors at each event will receive a gift from the Downie Wenjack Fund.
In addition to the walks, community members are invited to attend screenings of The Secret Path, a poignant animated film based on the album by Gord Downie and the graphic novel by Jeff Lemire.
Film Screening Schedule:
· Friday, October 17 – Bruce County Public Library, Wiarton Branch, 3:30 p.m.
· Monday, October 20 – Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
· Tuesday, October 21 – Bruce County Public Library, Walkerton Branch, 3 p.m.
For more information and event updates, visit www.brucemuseum.ca/event/walk-for-wenjack.