The story of Chanie "Charlie" Wenjack, whose death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. At the age of nine, he was sent, along with his two sisters, to board at the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora. Wenjack only brought seven matches. The Minutes highlight darker chapters of Canadian history and come a year after the conclusion of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Oh Canada, Canada! It looks like we don't have a Synopsis for this title yet. Home New Heritage Minute: "Chanie Wenjack" explores the legacy of residential schools. COVID hits UCP cabinet Tracy Allard (source: Facebook) At the time, 150 students lived at the school. We remember Gord Downie for his commitment and contributions to a new relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) is hosting interviews online as an extension of the Legacy Schools High School Artist Ambassador Program. Evidence given at the inquest into his death showed that he had made his way another 20 km (12 mi) east along the CN mainline. Wenjack began his schooling at the age of nine and was put in remedial classes soon after. When Wenjack was 9, he and his two sisters were sent to the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ontario. The Heritage Minute, narrated by Wenjack's sister, Pearl Achneepineskum, depicts life at the school, Wenjack's escape and death. Chanie was born in 1954 and grew up in Ogoki Post on the Marten Falls Reserve in northern Ontario. Published in October 2016, a novella by Canadian author Joseph Boyden focused on the suffering Wenjack endured and his state of mind during his ordeal. Once there, he was given the name 'Charlie'. After four days with the Kellys, Wenjack left to follow the Canadian National Railway (CN) mainline, heading towards Ogoki Post, 600 km (370 mi) east and north from Kenora. Episode 6: Edmonton Grads Heritage Minute. Offensive remarks will not be published. [1][2], Wenjack had only a light windbreaker and walked for 36 hours in the wind as the temperature dropped to −6 °C (21 °F). It is also the first Heritage minute that is narrated on not just its official languages (English and French) but also a third language, where this Heritage Minute … [1][2], On the morning of October 16, 1966, Wenjack and two school friends, orphaned brothers Ralph and Jackie MacDonald, ran away from the residential school, making it as far as Redditt, 31 km (19 mi) north of Kenora. Showing all 1 items Jump to: Summaries (1) Summaries. This Heritage Minute follows the story of Chanie (Charlie) Wenjack, who attended Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in Kenora, Ontario during the 1960s. On March 9, 2018 Trent University marked the official launch of the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies. Throughout the month of October, we are hosting several sessions in support of Secret Path Week. He had been gone a week when his frozen body was discovered beside the railroad tracks near Redditt, on Oct. 23, 1966. On October 16, 1966, Wenjack ran away from the school with two friends, Ralph and Jackie MacDonald. The story of Chanie "Charlie" Wenjack, whose death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. These 60-second vignettes commemorate notable Canadians, achievements in innovation, and instances of perseverance and bravery. The Kellys gave him some food and matches and suggested that he ask for help from the section maintenance crews stationed along the line. Although recent cultural productions such as Downie’s Secret Path, Historica Canada’s Heritage Minute, and Joseph Boyden’s novella Wenjack have increased people’s knowledge of Canada’s history of colonialism and residential schooling, they are not the only projects to try and raise awareness about these issues and Wenjack in particular. The Heritage Minutes DVD The Heritage Minutes are dramatic interpretations of pivotal events in Canada's history. Please: Share your reaction, your thoughts, and your opinions. Heritage Minutes (TV Series) Chanie Wenjack (2016) Plot. The article brought the ordeal to national attention.[2]. If Chanie Wenjack is the searing, awful truth about this country’s shameful residential school past, then you can only hope Davin Bomberry will be the reconciliation. The school was funded by the Canadian government and overseen by the Women’s Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church. The largest lecture hall on campus was subsequently named Wenjack Theatre in Wenjack's honour. Chanie "Charlie" Wenjack (January 19, 1954 – October 23, 1966) was an Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) First Nations boy who ran away from Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School where he boarded for three years while attending residential school in Kenora, Ontario, Canada. On June 21, 2016, a Heritage Minute about Wenjack's death was released by Historica Canada to coincide with National Aboriginal Day. He had found a CN passenger timetable which included a map and was using it as guide to get back home. 821. [9], Last edited on 18 December 2020, at 13:08, Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School, Canadian Indian Residential School System, Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, (Canada), "Wenjack & Downie Families Join Trent University to Celebrate Opening of Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies", "Downie-Wenjack fund receives $5M in 2018 federal budget", "New Heritage Minute explores dark history of Indian residential schools", "The flight of Chanie Wenjack, the boy who inspired Gord Downie's new album", "Gord Downie to release solo album, graphic novel next month", "How Chanie Wenjack chose Joseph Boyden - Macleans.ca", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chanie_Wenjack&oldid=994961066, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 13:08. You are currently using guest access ()Heritage Minutes: Chanie Wenjack. Special Instructions for Students wishing to enrol in 2018-19 INDG-GEOG 3201H/3202H - City as Home/Issues and Cities Through University of Sudbury - transfer credits obtained through online delivery of INDG 3056 & 3066 Delivered in partnership with Trent University (INDG-GEOG 3201h & 3202h) When the courses are offered by the University of Sudbury: Students from Trent Episode 8 – Pride + Where are the queer Heritage Minutes? Tags Canada 150 I guess , colonialism, guest host, justin trudeau, louis riel, national aboriginal day, residential schools, vikings? This explains why you never see her full torso in the shot. The Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie wrote a concept album based on Wenjack's escape. Its title is simply Wenjack. With Pearl Achneepineskum, Davin Bombarry, Glen Gaston, Jared John. The most famous line in Heritage Minute history, “Dr. There's also a short Heritage Minute video by Historica Canada. Ethical questions were raised and it brought to light the abuse and treatment of indigenous children in the residential school system. All three make the unsubstantiated claim that Chanie was sexually abused at … We are getting more and more spam. The three boys stayed with Ralph and Jackie's uncle, Charley Kelly, in Redditt. [1][2], His body was discovered beside the track at 11:20 am on October 23 by Elwood McIvor, a CN railway engineer on freight train number No. Chanie Wenjack has been featured in a Heritage Minute by Historica Canada. Be the first to contribute! The 84th Heritage Minute in Historica Canada's collection. The 84th Heritage Minute in Historica Canada's collection. Post navigation. Be passionate, be unapologetic. Penfield, I smell bacon and eggs.”. Oh Canada, Canada Podcast. This will give students the chance to ease into the material and become comfortable with it over a few lessons. Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest. The story of Chanie "Charlie" Wenjack, whose death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. Heritage Minutes: Chanie Wenjack. Actress Kate Nelligan was 8 months pregnant when she portrayed Emily Murphy! Chanie Wenjack has also been the subject of a Canadian Heritage minute, and has a theatre and Indigenous Studies school named for him at Trent University. TORONTO, June 21, 2016 – In a ground-breaking addition to its Heritage Minute collection, Historica Canada is releasing a pair of new Minutes that explore vital moments in Indigenous history: treaty-making and residential schools. The Wenjack affair along with many other incidents would bring legislative reforms and class action lawsuits as well as the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 1973, indigenous students at Trent University lobbied for a building to be named after Wenjack. The actor who hits the ball was a stunt double. The story of Chanie "Charlie" Wenjack, whose death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. In 2016, Historica Canadareleased a Heritage Minute about the heart-breaking story of 12-year old Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack, whose death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. During filming for the Jackie Robinson Heritage Minute, Anthony Hylton, who played Robinson, was very sick! is a podcast with your pals Kim and Jerry where we talk … Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack’s short life ended after he ran away from residential school in 1966. Elwood contacted the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) who recovered the body an hour later with help from a CN section crew. Image with caption: "Davin Bomberry as "Chanie Wenjack" in Historica Canada's new Heritage Minute on residential schools. [4], In 2016, the Gord Downie-Chanie Wenjack Fund was established to help with reconciliation between Canada and its indigenous peoples. At age 12, he ran away. Saved by Mr. T. 1. (CNW Group/Historica Canada)". Bruises indicated that he fell several times. They are intended to entertain, educate and encourage further research into our nation's past. The village in the Vikings Heritage Minute was actually shot on a small maquette (a diorama, a model) and then was made to look life size by changing the frame rate. Historica Canada, Heritage Minutes: Chanie Wenjack Statement of Apology Calls to Action Using the Lesson Plans The 50 minute Secret Path video can be overwhelming for students to watch in its entirety. The video is raw, heartbreaking and not easy to watch. This year alone, author Joseph Boyden has released a novella, Wenjack, told from the point of view of Wenjack, with a full-length novel, Seven Matches, to follow next year. The new Heritage Minute opens on Wenjack’s attempt to escape his residential school in 1966 and ends with his tragic death on a railway track, not far from where he began. [5], On June 21, 2016, a Heritage Minute about Wenjack's death was released by Historica Canada to coincide with National Aboriginal Day. His ordeal and his death brought attention to the treatment of children in the Canadian Indian Residential School System and following Wenjack's death, an inquest into the matter was ordered by the Government of Canada. "Wenjack" is a novella by Joseph Boyden. Synopsis. A year after Wenjack's death an article written by journalist Ian Adams, "The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack," was published in February 1967 in Maclean's magazine. No comments: Post a Comment. Coroner Dr. Glenn Davidson determined the cause of the death was attributed to exposure and hunger. The album, dubbed Secret Path, was released on October 18, 2016,[7][8] along with a concurrent graphic novel of Wenjack's story by novelist Jeff Lemire and an animated film which aired on CBC Television. Chanie Wenjack. Chanie Wenjack died 50 years ago this month: The Ojibwa boy froze by the side of Northern Ontario train tracks after running away from a residential school. Directed by Shane Belcourt. Comments will be monitored. It will bring you to tears. Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack (born 19 January 1954; died 23 October 1966 near Redditt, ON). Gord Downie, lead singer of the Tragically Hip and Jeff Lemire published Secret Path, a graphic novel that tells Chanie’s story. Heritage Minutes: Chanie Wenjack Email This BlogThis! He was known for being funny and for being the first one to understand jokes. Unlike other Heritage Minutes that were narrated by actors, Wenjack's was narrated by his sister, Pearl.[6]. A new Heritage Minute released by Historica Canada follows the story of Chanie (Charlie) Wenjack, a twelve-year-old boy who passed away escaping from a residential school in Northern Ontario, and the namesake of Trent University’s Wenjack Theatre. On October 19, 2016, Historica Canada released another Heritage Minute that shows a story about an Inuit artist named Kenojuak Ashevak. He was known to have a good sense of humour, according to the Cree Principal of the school, and was always the first to recognize a pun or riddle. And you should watch it over and over again. Watch the short video here. HISTORICA CANADA 2 CARLTON STREET, EAST MEZZANINE, TORONTO, ON, CANADA M5B 1J3. He died of hunger and exposure at Farlane, Ontario while trying to walk 600 km (370 mi) back to his home, Ogoki Post on the Marten Falls Reserve. He also tripped trying to run to first base after he hit the ball (which you can see if you watch closely!). Chanie Wenjack’s death sparked the first investigation into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. Chanie Wenjack was born at Ogoki Post on the Marten Falls Reserve. [1][2], Chanie Wenjack was born in 1954 on the Ogoki Post on the Marten Falls Reserve. The Residential Schools in Canada Education Guide was designed to complement this Heritage Minute , and includes activities to analyze and explore Chanie’s story further. [1][2], On October 27, 1966, Wenjack was buried at the cemetery on the reserve beside the Albany River.[1][2]. On November 17 an inquest was begun and a report was commissioned and determined that: The Indian education system causes tremendous emotional & adjustment problems for these children. The story of Chanie "Charlie" Wenjack, whose death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. DWF LIVE connects viewers to Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to build awareness, education, and connection. We have decided to include one song in each lesson plan. Earlier this year, Heritage Minutes released a new public service address entitled “Chanie Wenjack” highlighting the child’s tragedy. Louis Riel. For more information about Chanie Wenjack visit The Canadian Encyclopedia. Unlike other Heritage Minutes that were narrated by actors, Wenjack's was narrated by his sister, Pearl. He collapsed and died sometime on the morning of October 23 in a rock cut near Farlane. Penfield, I smell burnt toast,” was originally scripted as “Dr. Chanie Wenjack, an Anishinaabe boy from Ontario, ran away from his residential school near Kenora at age 12, and subsequently died from hunger and exposure to the harsh weather. Most people remember the light hearted heritage minutes — “I smell burnt toast” is a bit of an inside joke for all Canadians of a certain age. 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