Secret Path Week 2025

Honouring Stories, Languages, and Legacies

Each year, from October 17-22, educators and students across Canada participate in Secret Path Week. This national movement commemorates the legacies of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack and asks us all to commit to taking meaningful action towards reconciliation.

Indigenous Languages and Secret Path: Resources for High School Educators

At Learning Bird, we believe that one of the most powerful ways to honour this legacy is through language and storytelling. In partnership with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, we developed classroom-ready resources to help educators integrate The Secret Path into their classrooms.  These resources emphasize the significance of Indigenous languages in education and learning.

These resources invite learners to:

  • Explore the story of Chanie Wenjack through multiple perspectives.
  • Understand the role of language in preserving culture and identity.
  • Reflect on how stories connect history with present-day realities.
  • Engage in discussions about truth, reconciliation, and responsibility.

Explore our Indigenous Languages and Secret Path Resource Kit.

Get Involved in Secret Path Week 2025

Each year, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund invites Canadians to come together during Secret Path Week through a wide range of programs and activities. From concerts and classroom projects to national campaigns, these events create space for reflection, dialogue, and action.

Take ReconciliACTION

ReconciliACTIONs are locally planned events or activities that bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together in the spirit of reconciliation. These actions, whether large or small, spark awareness, encourage learning, and open space for meaningful conversation. Educators and schools are encouraged to share their reconciliACTION with the Downie Wenjack Fund, where some will be highlighted as examples for others to follow.

Participate in the Walk for Wenjack

The Walk for Wenjack is a community-based event that began in 2016. Walks can happen at any time of the year and provide a tangible way for people across Canada to honour Chanie Wenjack’s story while supporting the work of the Fund.

Become a Legacy School

Schools, daycares, and youth groups can also join the Legacy Schools program. This is a free national network that equips educators with resources to teach about both Canada’s colonial history and the richness and resilience of Indigenous cultures. Legacy Schools receive toolkits with lessons, activities, and materials designed to support educators in integrating reconciliation into their classrooms across various subject areas and grade levels.

Together, let’s honour Chanie’s story, Gord’s call to action, and the many Indigenous languages and voices that continue to guide us on the path toward reconciliation. 

How are you honouring Secret Path Week 2025? Let us know!

Four Pillars Society – Plan Development Support

The Four Pillars Society (FPS) distributes the $2.8 billion settlement fund awarded to 325 Band Class Members who opted into the related class action lawsuit. This funding is intended to help communities heal from the collective harms of the residential school system, including the loss of language, culture, heritage, and well-being.

As part of this process, each eligible community received a one-time payment of $200,000 in April 2025 from the Four Pillars Society to support the development of a community-led plan aligned with the Four Pillars:

  • Language: Revival and protection of Indigenous languages
  • Culture: Revival and protection of Indigenous cultures
  • Heritage: Protection and promotion of heritage, traditions, and connection to land
  • Wellness: Community and individual wellness through cultural and land-based practices

FPS recommends that communities develop a 10-year plan outlining how they intend to allocate future funds toward these pillars. 

Check eligibility here: List of Opt-In Band Class Members (PDF)

How We Can Support the Development of Your Four Pillars Society Plan

At Learning Bird, we recognize that every community has its own priorities and approaches. Our team can support your leadership in developing a plan that reflects your vision. We can assist with:

  • Facilitating community outreach and consultation sessions
  • Gathering and organizing feedback on initiatives
  • Preparing budgets and scope documents
  • Drafting and refining plan content based on community input
  • Formatting and packaging the final plan documents for submission

If your community would like support in this process, please contact us at info@learningbird.com to start the conversation.