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RVH becomes Canada's first health-care setting to unveil Downie-Wenjack Legacy Space

'This launch is an important step toward truth and reconciliation,' says Indigenous patient navigator at Barrie hospital's cancer care centre

Secret Path Week was marked this afternoon with emotional speeches, reflection and Indigenous drumming at Barrie’s Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH).

And with the formal celebration of the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space at RVH comes a safe spot to pause and reflect on Indigenous history and reconciliation.

“It is my hope that this continues. We need to do better and we can do better,” said Jermaine Elliott, co-chair of the Indigenous health circle.  

“This launch is an important step toward truth and reconciliation,” said Roberta Manitowabi-Roote, Indigenous patient navigator at RVH’s cancer care centre.

The legacy space, which will be moved throughout RVH, aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education and connections between all Canadians.

Secret Path Week recognizes the passing of Wenjack and Downie.

“Chanie’s death is not old news, it is today’s news,” said Roxanne Shank of the Barrie South Simcoe Metis Council. “Had he lived, he would be 67.”

Chanie Wenjack was an Anishinaabe boy who, in 1963 at age nine, was sent to Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ont. In 1966, at age 12, Chanie ran away from the school, attempting to reunite with his family, 600 kilometres away in Ogoki Post in Martens Falls Reserve, in northern Ontario.

Chanie’s body was found beside railway tracks on Oct. 22, 1966, a week after he fled. He died of starvation and exposure.

“Friday is 55 years since Chanie died,” said Manitowabi-Roote.

The legacy space consists of a large photo-poster, essentially Downie and Wenjack, and there will also be literature, books and handouts once the pandemic eases. The photo-poster in the legacy space tells Wenjack’s story.

“The addition of this legacy space inside the hospital expands upon their deep commitment to reconciliation and, and their important work in serving Indigenous people in Barrie, one of the largest Indigenous populations in Ontario,” said Sarah Midanik of the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund.

“It is an initiative that honours truth and reconciliation,” said Janice Skot, RVH president and CEO. “The legacy space program has never been more important than it is today.”

RVH is the first public health-care setting in Canada to take part in this initiative.

“This is a start and there’s more to come,” said Dr. Matthew Follwell, RVH’s chief of oncology, who championed the legacy space.

In late 2019, he contacted the Downie-Wenjack fund, asking to be part of the program. He met with RVH’s patient family advisory council, with the diversity and inclusion committee, which is part of the representation for Indigenous groups in the hospital.

But COVID-19 hit and everything was put on hold until mid-summer 2020, when the process began again  including meeting with the North Simcoe Muskoka Indigenous Health Circle and senior leadership at RVH.

Approval came from the Downie-Wenjack fund last December. It asked for $25,000 during a five-year period. Follwell said his family and several other physicians that he knew were supportive raised all of the money.

Downie was the lead singer, lyricist and collaborative songwriter with Canadian iconic rock 'n' roll band The Tragically Hip. He died at age 53 in October 2017 from an aggressive, incurable form of brain cancer, disclosed after a seizure in December 2015.

Between these dates, The Hip played a final Canadian concert tour in the summer of 2016 and Downie pushed Indigenous causes to the forefront, even imploring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to make them a priority. 

He also produced the Secret Path from Wenjack’s story  as an animated film, a music album and Jeff Lemire’s graphic novel.

Downie was honoured for his work on Indigenous causes by the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs.

For more information, visit downiewenjack.ca.