The Canada Atlas

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Chanie Wenjack

Anishinaabe boy · 1954-1966

Ran from a residential school and died trying to walk 600 kilometres home along the railway tracks.

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Life story

  1. January 19, 1954 · Ogoki Post, Ontario
    Born at Ogoki Post on the Albany River
  2. 1963 · Kenora, Ontario
    Taken at nine to the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School
  3. October 16, 1966 · Kenora, Ontario
    Ran away with two other boys and set out for home along the tracks
  4. October 23, 1966 · Redditt, Ontario
    Found dead of exposure and hunger beside the line, aged twelve
  5. 1967 · Kenora, Ontario
    The inquest into his death was the first to call for a review of the whole school system

Sources