This is Chanie Wenjack, an Anishinaabe boy from Ontario, who ran away from his Residential School – the Cecilia Jeffrey School – near Kenora at the age of 12 and subsequently died from hunger and exposure to the harsh weather. His death in 1966 sparked national attention and the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools.
His story was brought to the surface of Canadian consciousness again in 2016 by Gordon Downie, the late lead singer of the Tragically Hip. Downie, along with Jeff Lemire, wrote a book called the Secret Path telling Chanie’s tragic story.
If you have never read this book, you should. In fact, it should be mandatory reading for all Canadians. This may look like a children’s book, but trust me, this is NOT a children’s book. It will make you weep.
It’s even more important for us as Presbyterians to read this book – and learn about Chanie’s story – because the Cecilia Jeffrey School was run by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Cecilia Jeffrey was a member of the Women’s Missionary Society who worked with First Nations people in northern Ontario. The Federal government took over the management of all Residential Schools in 1969 and the Cecilia Jeffrey School closed for good in 1973. In 1994, the Presbyterian Church in Canada repented for our involvement in the Residential School system and in 2003, we paid $2.1 million dollars restitution to the survivors and families of our 2 Residential Schools as mandated by the Federal government.
The story of the Residential School system – and the church’s active and often, eager participation in it – is a story that needs to be told. As uncomfortable as it is, we need to hear it. Even though most of us had nothing to do the Residential School system, we need to learn about it. We need to be reconciled with the painful truth of our shared history as Canadians and Presbyterians so that we can repent and work for justice, healing, and reconciliation in our society and denomination.
And may these things NEVER happen again!
We have come a long way since 1966 when Chanie ran away from our Residential School, but we have a long way to go.
Here are some resources to help us learn and grow:
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and its Calls to Action
- Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Healing and Reconciliation ministries
- Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Indigenous Ministries
- University of Alberta’s FREE 12 part course called “Indigenous Canada”
- Phyllis Webstad’s Orange Shirt Society
David Robertson’s book 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk With Indigenous People on the Path to Healing is also great for congregations.
If you are a reader, I highly recommend exploring the writings of amazing Indigenous authors in Canada, including:
- Cherie Dimaline – The Marrow Thieves (one of my all-time favourite books!)
- Dawn Dumont
- Thomas King
- Richard Wagamese
Finally, check out Calgary Public’s library list of Canadian Indigenous authors.
Peace, Rev. Emma