American Reacts - Gord Downie's The Secret Path Part 4 (conclusion). See Description for Parts 1-3 

As an Indigenous Canadian, I am still proud to be Canadian. It was the leaders and people who hurt us, not the land. We cannot let people take that away from us.

"I am a stranger, you can't see me." That crosses boundaries, for anyone that has felt invisible. Thanks for sharing.

I would never belittle someone who honours the painful past of people he didn't even know, you have a voice and a platform now and this is what you're meant to do. Your sensitive and calm character will reach many because your approach is with compassion and kindness

I almost always comment on someone else's comment. Thank you so very much for this very real reaction. I know far too many people who consider this story propaganda. The racism against First Nation Peoples is alive and thriving. The government cannot change those hard hearts. It's going to take so much more to reach the masses. My mom and her two sisters were all born on First Nations land. All of them on different reserves. My grandmother was a public health nurse in northern Manitoba, so she just had her babies on the job. Both my grandparents were respected by their indigenous neighbours as they chose to live in their community rather than come only when their work demanded it. Bush life suited them well. Over 100 years of children being ripped from their parents and brought up by institutions then the shame that "salvation" ingrained in their hearts. Then set loose to have their own children only to have those kids sent to the same places. Five generations of compounded trauma. Children who had not had the benefit of growing up in loving families - how many generations will it take to heal? Lodges, healing circles, traditional songs, embracing the forgotten songs and language are all needed for certain, as a non native my recommendation is to take part in a sweat lodge, or go to a powwow and witness first-hand what our not so distant European relatives stole from them. Culture. Children. Language. Way of life! All must be relearned and learned to make any significant impact. Finally, Truth and Reconciliation day is fast approaching. Its a new federal holiday. It focuses on the children recently recovered from their unmarked graves. We wear orange tshirts with EVERY CHILD MATTERS on them. I would like to send four to you. I dont know how to direct message you for the address, or PO box. Miigwitch

Thank you for honouring Chanie and the Wenjack family. ❤

The sister is hinting about Shannen's dream - where a girl named Shannen Koostachin fought for proper schools on reserves. Not only were kids taught in portables, but the had to leave home to go to high school. The Grievous Angels song Diamonds in the Snow is about Shannen, who grew up in Attawapiskat, an impoverished Reserve a stones throw from a diamond mine. There is a video on the housing situation there. The problem was made worse when the owners of Debeers diamond mine put their waste in the sewage system overwhelming it. Wab Kinew song Heroes mentions Tommy Prince. A war hero.

Thank-you again for covering this important topic. God bless Gord Downie for devoting his final efforts to promote healing.

I see the compassion in your face John, near the compassion I feel for the First nations Boy. Please remember that this Is still their home, Why wouldn't they all leave Canada? Where would they go that is as beautiful? Bless you for posting this John and thank you.

I love watching your videos ! They make me feel good about my country and being a Canadian . However our history with the indigenous people is about as horrific as a history can be ! Thank you for shining a light on such a devastatingly important topic !

Thank you for this series.

So very sad. I live in Manitoba home of the Metis and Winnipeg which has the largest indiginous population in Canada. We did not know the extent of the abuse suffered at the hands of those poor children who attended residential schools run by the Roman Catholic church. I grew up near multiple reservations and befriended many people who lived on the reserves I heard rumblings about the abuse and witnessed poverty. The recognition of the abuse is so important and it's only a first step. The Canadian government has to find a way to get so many of our fellow citizens of indiginous decent out of the welfare state. People need to be heard of course, no question they need councelling and a path forward mentorship and most of all purpose. Many reservation chiefs are lining their pockets and doing nothing to help their communities. With input from everyday indiginous people the government needs a plan moving forward as the status quo is not working. Cycles of abuse, suicide, and substance abuse will only continue without a plan. Purpose and self-reliance would be an admirable end goal, and it may take generations to come to fruition.

It is so very important what you are doing. Where appropriate you make us feel proud. And when necessary you make us contemplate our errors, horrors, and the meaning of them.

I can feel your kindness and goodness cousin. Amazing you did such a series on your channel. Not knowing if it would blocked…seeing Gord for who he was. And the story he told of the horrors of the past and knowing it’s importance to tell this story. God Bless.

Again, thank you for the respect given to the subject matter. Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip brought this subject to light for many Canadians. Although many First Nations and Inuit had been speaking about it, it seems they were not being heard. Of course, I can only speak for myself and I am far from an intellectual or politically-aware person, I am ashamed to say how ignorant I was. Since Gord used his platform to bring it to the attention of the Canadian public, I (and, I assume, other Canadians) have become more aware of the Residential Schools, The 60's Scoop, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2-Spirit People, and other atrocities. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and Recommendations are a good starting point. There is much work to be done for healing, lead by Indigenous Peoples. I am listening.

This was such an important part of Canada's history that was stifled . Thank you for sharing it!

During Gords last concert he requested of the Prime Minister to fix it he was there, he challenged him the PM took that to heart and it is something we all want it is being worked on. We have so many years of neglect from governments that it will take some time, the water has been delayed by covid but a lot has been accomplished, housing we are working on that as well. There are a lot of stories like this one far far to many there is so much shame for all thats been done, it amazes me that they even speak to us but they do

You did Canada proud John! 👵🏼🇨🇦

@John F - American Reacts I watched this a couple of years ago several times in its entirety and I think I posted something to you in another video you did on The Hip, that you should see this. I don't know if you did this because of my comment or someone else's request, but I'm so glad you covered it. You did it with class and respect in all four parts. I was compelled to watch along with you as this is such an important story. It was awesome to sit and watch with you, to feel the truth and the power of this story as told By Gord. I believe this was his last major project, and honestly, what a legacy. He spoke up when many wouldn't, and because it was him, and the Tragically Hip, I think it caught a lot of ears and I think that was the point where it started to sink-in to a lot of Canadians as to what really, really happened over all those years. I felt proud to watch it for the 3rd time with you, and seeing it from another point of view. Your video reactions never disappoint John, and I thank you for them all, but especially this one. Much love and respect to the Wenjack family, Gord Downie and The Hip, and to you for doing this. Love you brother.

I remember following along with all this at the time, buying graphic book and album as soon as they were released. I wear the Chanie Wenjeck hat pin on all my jackets as a reminder of both Chanie and Gord. I'm also happy to say as part of many ciriculum about indigenous peoples of Canada and the residential school system, The Secret Path book is used as a tool in elementary schools (I guess you'd call them primary schools in the U.S.?) as part of the lessons. You should really pick it up as the animation in the film were done are whole based on that graphic novel drawn by Jeff Lemire.

❤

This is such an important story, but maybe, still hard for people to face. Charlie was only four months older than me. So much life robbed from him. So much life robbed from so very many. Heartbreaking in the extreme.

Thank you John for learning about Canada. In doing so, you taught me about this story which I was not aware. Thanks again.

Thank-you again for doing this. I am saddened by the numbers of views. It is so important a topic and these srories must be heard. As Gord said he was 52 before he heatd about the schools. I was about the same age, and how could we have not known this was going on almost up to the millenium. I was born in1963, Gord '64, Chanie '54. Those who started the schools were from a different time. We knew better long before Chanie was born. He should have been learning of these atrocities in a history book, in his own language. You did a wonderful job of presenting this to hundreds of people which is great. May I suggest a couple of awesome First Nations people to check out. Tom Longboat and Francis Pegahmagabow.

Thanks pal i had several in my family that endured the schools

I know you're a bit down by the fact that not a lot of people are paying attention to this series of videos, but I knew the story and how it would make me feel so I didn't click until I was able to give the whole story my full attention and be able to cry myself into a headache. I just finished watching them back to back. Maybe a lot of the people who didn't just couldn't bring themselves to watch something so heartwrenching, especially if they've seen this before. One of my best friends is indigenous and her mom was in a residential school. She is, to this day, an extremely religious person because of the "training" she received there. So much so that she didn't want her kids to learn much about where their family had come from. I heard about what happened a few decades ago, and didn't realize that so many white Canadians had never heard of it at all until I read the comments on your videos and looked into it. I never could understand why so many people were still so stuck in time when it came to racism and bigotry against indigenous people. A lot of them assumed that the problems the indigenous community were facing was because of their culture. The alcoholism, the homelessness, the abuse, the poverty...it was trauma. And so many people mocked them for it, after we traumatized them in the first place. Now I know more of it than I realized is due to ignorance and not just an incredible lack of empathy and intentional cruelty. It's not much, but it makes me feel at least a little bit better about the people around me. So thanks. It's going to take a long time to completely fix this, but Gord's last passion is clearly making things better. I've been seeing a lot of change in the last 5 years or so. He really was something special, wasn't he? BTW, I already contribute to the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund each paycheque. My employer set it up so that we can donate to any charities we want automatically, and I added this one the day it hit the list.

Thankyou.

It will be many many generations before reconciliation takes place a lot has to happen before that can take place

Thank you for learning about Canada - warts and all. Difficult subject matter is often the most important to look at. If you want to transition to something lighter and more humourous I would suggest something from the National Film Board of Canada. I think you may enjoy the artistic and original animations. Some classics include The Log Drivers Waltz and The Sweater (which is a good representation of French culture in Canada). Just a suggestion.

*story

I agree 💯 with @carolmurphy7572 well done John if nothing else you’ve brought more awareness by doing this 4 part series. Much respect 🫶

I never learned anything about what was going on until early 2000s. When I did learn something about residential school I believed it was way in the past. I am in my late fifties and never had a clue. 🙏❤️ 🪶