The writer and director of the Secret Path documentary continues to shed light on the Chanie Wenjack story.
Mike Downie, the brother of the late Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, was at the University of Windsor on Thursday to talk to students about the making of his documentary.
He says he and his brother felt it was important to share the Chanie Wenjack story. Wenjack was an Ojibway boy who died in 1966 while running away from a residential school and tried to walk 600 kilometres home.
"I think there's a real opportunity right now for indigenous and non-indigenous people to get to know each other better and that's what the fund is trying to do," says Downie.
The Wenjack story is part of a multi-media project including a graphic novel, animated film and a 10-song album.
"I think for a lot of people kind of open of their hearts to this story — this dark chapter of Canadian history," says Downie. "It's kind of a non threatening story, but I think it's one that it's really easy to connect to."
He says the documentary has touched a lot of people.
"It's a universal story about a boy trying to get home. I think it's something, you don't need to be Ojibway, you just need to be a human being to understand what home represents."
Downie says proceeds from Secret Path will support the Downie-Wenjack Fund. The fund is part of Gord Downie’s legacy and commitment to reconciliation.
Downie was part of the university's Humanities Research Group Distinguished speakers series.