Gord Downie's The Secret Path 

i came back today after what happened in the schools. 215 kids as low as the age of three were dug up in unmarked graves beside a residential school.

I am heavily involved in my aboriginal community and I think a lot of people have a miss understanding. We aren't blaming the people today for what happened all we are asking for is help, there are many aboriginal families suffering because they did not get the proper help after what relatives went through in residential schools. The people in residential schools didn't have a proper childhood, and when they left residential school they had no idea how to cope with it besides drugs and alcohol. So when they go on to have kids those kids are immediately exposed to a negative environment, which leads to mental illness ex. depression, anxiety, self harm and addiction. Then the cycle continues to when they have kids. And a big issue today is the lack of therapists on reserves, my reserve doesn't have any. If everyone came together and spoke up for the issues that endure within aboriginal communities I believe we would have a much better chance of being heard and being helped. The aboriginal culture and beliefs are beautiful but it gets over shadowed by people just assuming most of us are drunks. We don't want to be drunks some people just don't have access to the proper therapy and they turn to substance abuse.

I live on a reserve and every winter we walk on the river (55 miles for our ancestors and how much residential schools impacted our ancestors) so we walk every winter too finish their walks that they couldn’t Finish.

R.I.P. Gord and Chanie, may both of you rest in peace

If the goal was to make me feel like I was a silent ghost, traveling at that lonely little boy's side and feeling anguished that I could not help him, could not warm him... mission accomplished. Powerful.

My uncle, I heard your story as a child from mom. I went to that release in Ottawa with my girls, one I named after you. You are not forgotten my uncle.

One of my sons says- calling these schools "residential" schools is a misnomer. They were slave schools where relatives of mine were trapped and abused.

I like how the afterlife and memories are in full colour and reality is blue and black and white

I'm an emotional wreck after watching this. I'm a first Nation women and a mother, i can't imagine if my son went through what chanie did. I'm in university to be a mental health therapist because I know the intergenerational consequences of the Residential School system. chanie's story fuels my fire to continue down my path of healing my people.

Should be required for every Canadian to watch. Love that they made this appropriate for children to watch, too.

Finally someone capable of amplifying this truth not only doing it, but in a beautiful way. Thank you Gord, and the Native People for your endurance.

This should be placed into the Canadian Education Curriculum.

I'm sure that when Gord's time comes, Chanie will thank him for bringing his story to light.

The thing that got me was that I kept thinking everything would be fine until I realized this ain't no Disney miracle it's the real world

In 1990, during my senior year at a private Catholic high school in BC, 3 of the Christian "Brothers" that ran our school were exposed to be relocated abusers from Mount Cashel Orphanage in Newfoundland. The Church had quietly moved them West in the 60s. Survivors of the orphanage were coming forward in the 90s. The Archdiocese refused to let our school be liquidated to fund settlements to the victims...many of which were of First Nations heritage. I was part of a small collective that wanted the school to close and the money be dispersed among the claimants even though we understood only a fraction of what the truth was. Meanwhile, the majority of the school were in support of these 3 Brothers as school pride masked ignorance to injustice. 26 years later, as a father of 3 small children, I weep in shame and sorrow for Chanie and his courageous family. There was so much more to the story that I never knew and I am thankful for the TRC, Gord and the CBC for opening my eyes again.I pray that that through awareness, understanding and Reconciliation we Canadians may never force each other to walk down those lonely railroad tracks again.

My class watched this in school as a test group for a national project. Every student was holding in tears. Some teachers held tears back too.

Over three years since his passing and four since this came out, The Secret Path never fails to bring out my feelings of sorrow and disgust about one of my country's darkest moments of Aboriginal genocide.

Thank you so much to Gord Downie and all involved with the creation of The Secret Path. I was in tears nearly the whole time. I was so close to all of this stuff while growing up without even knowing it. I grew up in Manitoba and I truly feel that this film helped heal something inside of me. I hate to say it but it would seem that the education system has failed Canadians. I also spent an entire year working for CN Rail walking those exact same rails Chanie walked without knowing it. Past Dryden and Soux Lookout, and all around Kenora, I have walked the rails. I always felt a deep sadness in those areas, the way the rails tear through the land is not so dissimilar to the way we have torn through the Native American people's lives and culture. I am so sorry. I am sorry we shaved you, ripped you from your families, beat you, raped you, and destroyed parts of your culture. As Gord sings "die here, here and here" "sign here, here and here" I feel so so sorry. This is just the start of the conversation and a long process of apologies. I am sorry.

My dad walked the railroad from pelican lake residential school near sioux lookout to ear falls and then there on to swain post when he was 13 in 1970, so this definetly hit close to home for me. Glad to see this in trending videos.

My tears run freely. I am Mohawk and have met survivors. Nyaweh Gord.

cbc please add captions for the deaf

Holy man, I cried so hard

If this should've been an Oscar nominee

With all due respect to the Tragically Hip, who I think is one of the best rock bands Canada has ever had, I think this is Gord Downie's best work. Inspired, musically rich, conceptual, compassionate, tender and deeply significant to Canadian society.

Hi everyone. I just watched this because my grade 8 year son had this as his homework. He asked me to help. My children always stand against injustice. I want to help. It is heart breaking. Please we all need to stand together for them to have fresh water, proper food, schools and hospital. I will support the way I can.

I didn't go to residential school, but my parents went. There are a lot of untold stories or residential schools, I'm glad this one was told. Thank you Gord, and CBC for telling it.

R.I.P Gord! We will never have another person like you again, may your music and message live on forever!

The reason I found this true story, is because my teacher showed it to us (the book copy) and said she couldn't read it to us because she started bursting tears every time she read it. I think every Canadian should watch this. Even though *we* weren't the *exact* people who did this, like residential schools and all that, we as people still owe them the *biggest* apologies of our life

I am an American, who was fortunate to live a few years in Canada, and experience your great nation. The Hip personify the feeling of the Canada I hold with me. Gords art and music will be held in high esteem for decades, but I feel this will remain his greatest accomplishment. This is brilliant, creative, awe inspiring, humbling, and truly something that will work for the greater good long after he's gone. Thank you, Gord, for being you. The world needs more Gord Downies! Cheers from Atlanta, GA.

Seven Matches just wrecked me.

Gord was such a beautiful person. He loved this country and our indigenous people so.

cried during nearly this entire movie,, extremely well done!

Tears flowing. Thank you Gord Downie and CBC

the pain this truly brings to my soul as an indigenous person is heavy and undeniable. the suffering we and the children of our people have gone through is immense, and seeing some of it brought to attention is somewhat of a relief on my soul, in the hopes that something changes someday.

This needs more views. We were taught about his story in Grade 10, and it has always stuck with me. But if you go to Manitoba or Saskatchewan, the problems are far, far from forgotten or fixed.

Before Gord mentioned the issue of residential schools and I did some research I didn't know much at all about what happened. When I saw the trailer for this leading up to its broadcast my interest grew. I saw the footage of the children and I pictured my own kids. I watched the Secret Path with great interest, and I had no idea that Gord's songs and the images would affect me the way they have.

This is such a powerful, tragic, beautiful film. Many of the songs had me in tears. I don't recommend driving while listening to the music, I was bawling on the 401 when Son came on.

Watching The Secret Path and thinking of you Gord. I'm a new fan of Gord Downie (for about 6 months now). I was extremely saddened when I found out he was sick and has now passed on. I live in the United States and never got exposed to Gord's music until recently. His songwriting just blows me away. His heart was in everything he did and I am so grateful that I discovered his music. Secret Path is such a wonderful project and I hope and pray everyone will find unity in Canada. I look forward to supporting this project while living in the USA.

It's great what Gord is doing; we need more people like him to really bring Canada together as one.

watched this for a school project. never thought my kids around the same age as my dad was back then went through this. brought me plenty of tears and even 2 years after I still watch this and listen and get emotional. RIP Gord Downie you taught many about this crime to so many people. you're a legend forever. may Chanie also rest in peace, and I hope his death was not in vain and that it continues to bring attention to this issue. also RIP all the other indigenous children who died.

The way Gord interacts with the family fills my heart with love. How kind he is and how he approaches the subject is beautiful

Thinking about this in light of recent events. The first time I saw this I was bedridden for a week with sadness and disbelief. The injustice of it all is too much to bear and this work tells his story beautifully.

The Secret Path is so beautifully done......the music, the animation, the sad story. No one could have done this better than Gord Downie. Thank you Gord!!

they showed this to me in music class

Rest in peace. I'm a little too young, to have fully appreciated your music. You clearly loved this country.

Chapters (2:37 - 46:13) 1. The Stranger - 2:37 2. Swing Set - 9:02 3. Seven Matches - 12:26 4. I Will Not Be Struck - 16:16 5. Son - 20:28 6. Secret Path - 23:55 7. Don’t Let This Touch You - 28:15 8. Haunt Them, Haunt Them, Haunt Them - 33:25 9. The Only Place To Be - 38:43 10. Here, Here and Here - 41:48

Gord... Can't stop wiping my eyes... you told the story similar of my mom and dad.... they are so damaged by the schools. They are broken human beings and it reflects them today as 79 yrs. old. Flash backs of their youth in Alzheimer's. I'm gonna draw Chanie and send it to you... be well Gord... Megwich

watched this in grade 8 and now i'm in grade 11. still makes me tear up after 3 year. RIP Gord and Chanie.

The fact that Canada put children through that makes me cry especially when my great grandmother was in a residential school and it messed her up. RIP Chanie and Gord. Thank you Gord for bringing what happened to indigenous children to the light because it's a topic that more people need to be aware of.

This touched me. I'm actually studying residential schools

Thanks for making this available online!

#ibelieve in the secret path. Thanks to Gord's album, it has changed my life for the better, and for that, I am truly thankful!❤

Seven Matches is so amazing. It really captures feeling of what he might have gone through. 150 years to go!

The amount of tears streaming down my face

Shed a few tears today as I read the news. Spent my whole youth listening to "The Hip", I feel as if a part of me is gone now. Rest in peace now Gord, you were a great and wonderful man and will be sorely sorely missed.

😪I'm a Canadian who lives in Ontario, as I followed this story since it has been blasted all over the media and still watch this as a reminder. That our sick 🤑 selfish government has been lying everything for far to long, This is heart 💔braking. I watched Gord Downing The Secret Path and his Concert in Kingston Ontario at home. R.I.P. For all who didn't make it from that awful School and Gord Downie for making this possible.

Thanks for uploading CBC!

Very well said Moderator & panel. I still cannot understand why there have never been any criminal charges laid against any of the churches, Various Police Agencies, many levels of Government agencies or individuals working for the government. The evidence is overwhelming. It has been for years.

a masterpiece.

my teacher showed us this in class and i was trying not to cry the whole time.

Poor child was alone, scared, hungry and cold. But determined to get home after escaping from that hell hole he was in. RIP Charlie

this story is completely heartbreaking and there are no words to describe the suffering of these poor children and their families. Gord really did do a beautiful thing

Gord, bless you, for your depiction of a run away boy, Chanie, from a reconciliation school. Canadians should all be aware of this tragic time, when the children were taken away, not allowed to speak their own language, or of their culture. I cried for this little boy, so sweet, and all he wanted was to get home. My heart will always remember the pain his parents and family have gone through, as well as all who were in these terrible schools. Thank You Gord Downie-this a great song and story that will stand for many, many years to come. We will always remember you!!!

My colleague and I just finished a unit combining our English 9's and 11's with two weeks focused on inquiry project based learning. Working in teams of 5, they explored graphic text and multimedia as a means for exploring social justice issues, and reconciliation in particular. They explicated, discussed, created slides and in our Learning Commons, shared profound insights. It was amazing. After reading, watching, discussing, expressing, in their teams they had two days to produce art and info and connections to Secret Path and national or even global issues. The artwork, poetry, thoughtful serious, adult discussion has been beyond our expectations. Thank you, Gord, Mike and family. Thank you Jeff Lemire for your incredible graphics. Thank you to Chanie's family for embarking on this incredible project. Thank you for inspiring a new generation to understand the past as they seek to create more meaningful change in the future.

so heart wrenching..my grampa was a little boy just like him..he lived obviously.. but it devastated generations..i love all of you.. :(

I cried when one of the guys said they chose to forgive at 2:02:20. Forgiving is the best thing to do because we all make mistakes, when we forgive others, ourselves we learn and teach others to make a better world.

Mr. Downie is right. I think this truly does bother every single Canadian deep down.

Im gonna do all I can as musician to carry on where you left off here gordie. This hits hard.

let us not shame ourselves again! These little boys and girls still need our help!

I may be white and there is no native canadian blood in me i'm Irish Canadian and a catholic.....but damn it I will always stand by the Natives of North America....because it right it's just it's CANADIAN DAMN IT. JUSTICE FOR THOSE NATIVE SURVIVORS AND JUSTICE FOR CHANIE WENJACK

So incredibly moving and heartbreaking.

How can you possibly dislike this.. I loved Haunt Them. Then entire thing was stunning though.

Simply the most beautiful and wrenching work of art I have encountered in my 59 years on this planet. Can’t watch it, can’t stop watching it. I say this as a member of Team Cyclone of Misery.

My heart is breaking and singing at the same time😔❤️

wow, it’s been years since i’ve seen this video and i’m so happy about the attention it’s gotten. i first watched this with my 6th grade class, i remember lots of us balling our eyes out during this unit but it really was powerful to us at such a young age too. lots of us were anishanabe in that class, so as we grew up we learnt more about our families horrible past. It really opened our eyes about how special our family and elders mean to us ❤❤

Rest in Power Gordie Baby. From Poland.

ive been coming back every month to listen to this again

This was so sad I can’t believe First Nations were treated like this they never deserved it the fact that, that boy had the courage to atleast run away and try to escape is amazing and emotional this story made me cry. I wish I hadn’t seen but then thank you for this video. I can’t believe the pain he was going through being away from my parents is the hardest thing I could ever imagine to do.

Thank you for sharing this with us; Gord Downie's work makes these issues more accessible to all Canadians. .

A story that needed telling, thank you Gord. RIP

As a native in Canada , thank you so much Gord for doing the great work you did!!! You will be missed. RIP Gord

I'm only 13 but still know a lot about this. I'm glad that my school is showing this to all of the classes.

I'm watching this in English class...

I never really knew about the tragically hip until he was diagnosed. I learned about this project and it was really touching. Rest in peace to this Canadian Legend

Gord you are an inspirational person, thanks for bringing this story to us oxoxox

A very moving and beautiful work. This is a story that needs to be told to the world.

😔So moving and heartbreaking..I couldn't stop the tears from flowing all throughout. Definitely a story that needed to be told.. RIP Chanie 💕❤️💕

I’ve never watched without losing another piece of myself.

Thanks for making me cry and feel this boys pain

Thank you so much for shinging a light on this. 🧡

Thankyou gord downie who let us know about this poor young man

God bless your Chanie Wenjack and Gord Donnie 🧡

Thank you so much, Gord. This was much needed, and you did it. I have known this for years, and did nothing about it. You stepped up to the plate, took the bat, and did what you could. Let's hope, dear heart, that you have hit the ball out of the park. With my love and thanks. Sue Roberts from St. John's, NL. Take good care of yourself and those who love and appreciate you and The Hip. You HAVE made a difference.

I wish I could have met Gord, an amazing, brave and compassionate man. His family must be unbelievably proud of him. We love you Gordy you'll never be forgotten my friend

the fact that this is a true story just makes it so unreal,. wow.

I bought the book, it's really good. Rip Gord I wasn't around for the majority of your time. But the limited time I've been here and the magic you've created has helped so much my thoughts and prayers go out to your family rip...

I’m not crying, your crying 😭

I've watched this at least 4 times since it was released and it gets me every time.😢

I watched the Secret Path special last night (rebroadcasted Oct 22, 2017) and I was moved to tears. I knew the Tragically Hip front man was doing some great things before his passing, but I never knew about all of this until it was all brought to light. I am upset that it was brushed aside and First Nations people are still not looked after to this date. We have an open door policy for new immigrants which is excellent, but we also need to look after our First Nations people. Bless you Gord and others for helping bring this to light. You left this world on a very high note Gord.

We all are connected in a circle of life that is far deeper than any of us can truely understand.