Chanie Wenjack was trying to get home. But he was 12 years old, and home was more than 600 kilometres away. In 1966, Chanie died while fleeing the residential school that had taken him from his family. His story is at the heart of Walk for Wenjack, an invitation to learn the truth about residential schools, honour his life and take action toward reconciliation.

This year, SelfDesign is joining the walk. Learners, families, contractors, alumni and friends can participate from wherever they live, in a way that works for them.

For Amy Kealey, a member of SelfDesign’s Indigenous Education team, walking with her children brings Chanie’s story close to home.

“Walking for Wenjack means acknowledging the privilege of walking alongside my children and knowing they have the safety and freedom to be themselves, to connect with the land, and to grow in relationship with their ancestors, relatives and community,” she says.

 

A community walking together

At SelfDesign, the walk is also a chance to come together. SelfDesign is a Legacy School with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Foundation, a commitment to ongoing learning and action. Janice Green, SelfDesign’s Educational Program Lead, has hoped for years to find a way for the wider community to take part together.

SelfDesign families and team members may walk different paths, but they can share in the same purpose. As Janice explains, “I think building community is difficult at times, and this feels like the right way to do that.”

Janice’s son, Beckett, graduated from SelfDesign in 2025 and has joined the team along with his mom.

“As a SelfDesign alum (Class of 2025), I felt a strong desire to join SelfDesign’s Walk for Wenjack team to deepen my commitment to Truth and Reconciliation by continuing to carry out reconciliACTIONS which I began to do at SelfDesign,” says Beckett. “This experience has offered me a meaningful way to put my commitment into action, while also giving me the opportunity to connect walking with mindfulness and reflection.”

 

Making space for reflection and action

Kate Fleming, who also works with SelfDesign’s Indigenous Education team, walks regularly. But for Walk for Wenjack, she has been thinking about what she brings to that time.

“I use that time to be really intentional,” Fleming says. She might listen to a podcast or reflect as she walks, using that time to check in with herself about where she’s at with her truth and reconciliation journey.

The walk can open conversations too. Kate suggests inviting a friend to walk with you, and says that for families, it’s a great way for parents to start the conversation with younger children about why they’re walking and who Chanie was.

Janice sees an opportunity for learners who are ready to act on what they’ve learned. SelfDesign’s Elder-in-Residence, Michael Harris, has taught her to keep truth at the centre of that work.

“Because I’m a settler, I can’t have reconciliation without truth,” she says. For learners wondering what action could look like, the walk offers a place to begin.

 

Join SelfDesign’s Walk for Wenjack team

There is no single way to participate. Join SelfDesign’s team, choose an activity that works for you and decide whether you’d like to track kilometres or fundraise. Neither tracking distance nor fundraising is required. You can take part at any time through March 2027, though Secret Path Week in October is a time for our community to walk and learn together.

Secret Path Week takes place October 17–22, honouring the legacies of Chanie Wenjack and Gord Downie. On October 23 at 10 a.m. PCT, SelfDesign will host a gathering on Zoom to mark the tenth anniversary of Secret Path and celebrate its 2026 Walk for Wenjack team. Hosted by Amy Kealey and Katie Wheeler, the event will bring learners in grades 6-12 as well as learning consultants together to share stories from the walk, watch and reflect on selections from Secret Path, and consider the steps they can take toward reconciliation.

Will you join us? Visit walk-for-wenjack-2026.raiselysite.com to register with the SelfDesign team, learn his story and take a step toward truth and reconciliation, wherever you are and however you choose to participate.