Downie Wenjack Fund

What is your opinion on bannock? Leave a comment! In this DWF LIVE conversation, Chef Zach Keeshig and Derek Blais come together to explore Indigenous food sustainability through storytelling, sourcing, and relationships to the land. Go to the DWF YouTube channel and watch the full episode! #ReconciliACTION #DWFLIVE #IndigenousFood #IndigenousVoices #Sustainability #FoodSovereignty #IndigenousChefs #FoodSustainability #IndigenousStories #Bannock

In 2026, we will mark the 10th anniversary of Secret Path, the album, graphic novel, and film that shared Chanie’s story with audiences throughout Canada and beyond. A decade later, Secret Path remains a powerful call to remember Chanie, confront the ongoing impact of residential schools, and take meaningful action toward reconciliation. Finding the Secret Path tells the story of how Gord Downie brought Chanie's story to the national stage—featuring concert footage, reflections from the Wenjack and Downie families, Indigenous leaders and the musicians who worked on Secret Path. Watch the full documentary on the DWF YouTube channel, link in bio. #ChanieWenjack #GordDownie #SecretPath #DownieWenjackFund

The 2026 Walk for Wenjack website is officially live! Inspired by Gord Downie’s call to “Do Something,” Walk for Wenjack began in 2016 to honour Chanie Wenjack. Today, people throughout Canada walk to learn, raise awareness, and take meaningful reconciliACTION. Join us for the 2026 campaign! Since this is a new campaign year, all participants (returning and first-time) will need to create a new Raisely account to track their impact. Register today at walkforwenjack.ca to lead the way. Miigwetch for your incredible and continued support! #WalkForWenjack #ReconciliACTION #DoSomething #SecretPath #TruthAndReconciliation #GordDownie #ChanieWenjack

🔥 DWF Artist Ambassadors Siibii and Aysanabee performed "Body to Body" together at the Indspire Awards in Halifax — a national celebration honouring Indigenous achievement in education, the arts, and leadership. Congratulations to all of this year's Indspire Award recipients! #DownieWenjackFund #Siibii #Aysanabee #IndspireAwards #Halifax #IndigenousExcellence #ArtistAmbassadors

Tess’s Red Dress, written by Carolyn Roberts and illustrated by Kelsey Mata Foote, is a tender and powerful picture book that gently introduces young children to Red Dress Day — a day to remember and honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People. With heart, care, and language just right for a younger audience, this is a story about love, family, and why every person deserves to be remembered. This DWF LIVE session invites students into the world of Tess's Red Dress, exploring themes of love, memory, and belonging. #RedDressDay #MMIWG2S #ReconciliACTION

Legacy Schools educators - are you looking for a way to move reconciliation forward in your classroom? We’ve created a survey just for you: EN: downiewenjack.ca/schools-survey FR: downiewenjack.ca/fr/schools-survey Our short survey helps you reflect on your reconciliACTIONs and your path toward reconciliation. You’ll be able to share the progress you’ve made and map the next steps on your reconciliation journey. As a bonus, you’ll receive classroom resources tailored to YOU! Let’s keep moving forward together. #LegacySchools #ReconciliACTION #TruthAndReconciliation #DownieWenjackFund #DoSomething

Today is Moose Hide Campaign Day. Attend the in-person Toronto event today, from 12-1:30pm at Queen’s Park with @the_landk and @natashafisher_ or tune in for the live stream! Links and info here: moosehidecampaign.ca Moose Hide Campaign Day is a national movement to end violence against women and children, grounded in Indigenous teachings of respect, responsibility, and care. The campaign began in 2011 when Paul Lacerte and Raven Lacerte initiated a call to action along British Columbia’s Highway of Tears, a region known for the high rates of MMIWG. Over 7 million moose hide pins have been distributed across Canada. Each one a commitment to speak up and take action. Order a free pin: moosehidecampaign.ca/pins @moose_hide_campaign #MooseHideCampaignDay #EndGenderBasedViolence #Reconciliation

Indigenous Women Outdoors Society hosted a mountain biking program that brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, gender-diverse, and Two-Spirit participants to experience the outdoors while fostering cultural exchange. With support from the Reconciliation Action Grant, Indigenous participants shared knowledge of the land, language, ancestral stewardship, and traditional foods and medicines, while non-Indigenous participants and coaches shared mountain biking knowledge and skills. The program promoted reciprocal cultural and knowledge exchange within the group. theblanketfund.ca #OshkiWupoowane #TheBlanketFund #Reconciliation #CanadianTire #DownieWenjack L’Indigenous Women Outdoors Society a offert un programme de vélo de montagne qui a réuni des femmes autochtones et non autochtones, ainsi que des personnes de diverses identités de genre et bispirituelles, pour leur permettre de faire l'expérience du plein air dans un cadre propice aux échanges culturels. Grâce au soutien d’une subvention d’action pour la réconciliation, les participantes autochtones ont partagé leurs connaissances du territoire, de la langue, de la gestion ancestrale ainsi que des aliments et des médicaments traditionnels, tandis que les participantes non autochtones et les entraîneuses ont enseigné des techniques de vélo de montagne. Le programme a favorisé un échange réciproque de cultures et de connaissances au sein du groupe. theblanketfund.ca #OshkiWupoowane #FondsDesCouvertures #Réconciliation #CanadianTire #DownieWenjack

Bear Witness Day honours Jordan River Anderson, a young Cree boy who spent his entire life in hospital due to a jurisdictional dispute over his at-home care. His story led to Jordan's Principle, which ensures First Nations children can access the health, education, and social services they need, without delay. On February 5, 2026, the Canadian Senate officially recognized May 10 as Bear Witness Day, a National Day of Action to honour Jordan and his family, and to call for the full implementation of Jordan's Principle. The day is named after Spirit Bear, a symbol of justice and reconciliation representing over 165,000 First Nations children impacted by inequitable access to public services. This Bear Witness Day, learn, advocate for equity, and bear witness to the ongoing work of reconciliation. Visit the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society to learn more about Jordan’s Principle and how it’s being implemented: fncaringsociety.com #BearWitnessDay #JordansPrinciple

Mural by Emily Kewageshig. Photography by Kikki Guerard The partnership between DWF and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) began in June 2022, when MLSE, DWF, and Scotiabank hosted the first National Indigenous Peoples Day Youth Concert at Scotiabank Arena. Since then, MLSE and DWF have collaborated on multiple initiatives, including an Indigenous Youth Summit in 2024 at MLSE’s LaunchPad facility. In 2025, as part of its ReconciliACTION Plan, MLSE joined the DWF Legacy Spaces program and, on January 29, 2026, celebrated the official opening of its Legacy Space. The space features a custom mural by DWF Artist Ambassador Emily Kewageshig, centred around the theme “Indigenous Past, Present, and Future in Sports & Entertainment.” The mural highlights Indigenous athletes and artists from diverse Nations and Territories, including George Armstrong, the first Indigenous team captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose family attended the celebration. The space also showcases MLSE’s team Indigenous logos, designed by Jennifer Taback and DWF Artist Ambassadors Emily Kewageshig and Luke Swinson. The opening ceremony was led by Miskwaa Animkii Bnesii, a traditional Knowledge Keeper, who shared teachings from his Anishinabek culture. Remarks were shared by community partners Councillor Jesse Herkimer of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, DWF President & CEO, Sarah Midanik, Mike Downie, Emily Kewageshig, and Indigenous Consultant, Laura McPhie. Each emphasized the importance of dedicating space to honour the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to sport. MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley also delivered an engaging message describing the Legacy Space as a tribute to the culture, values, and achievements of Indigenous Peoples and a reminder of where we came from and where we are today. MLSE’s Anna Jacobs, Indigenous Partnerships Liaison, Angela White, Senior Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Nicole Chin, Senior Manager, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, who led the implementation of the space, also made remarks inspiring all present to learn, reflect, and take meaningful action toward reconciliation legacyspaces.ca #ReconciliACTION #MLSE

Last chance to join Legacy Schools to receive a Toolkit in the mail this school year! If you've been thinking about signing up for the Legacy Schools program, now is the time. May 16 is the last day to register to receive a Legacy Schools Toolkit for the 2025/2026 school year. Here's what you'll get as a Legacy Schools educator: Legacy Schools Toolkit — arriving before the end of June, packed with resources and materials ready to bring into your classroom, including a copy of Secret Path, written by Gord Downie Access to The HUB — our brand-new Learning Management System launching this fall Exclusive entry into contests and free events happening throughout the year By registering for the 2025/2026 school year, you’ll also receive a 2026/2027 Booster Kit in the fall with new resources to complement your Toolkit. Head to legacyschools.ca and sign up before May 16! #LegacySchools #ReconciliACTION #DoSomething #TruthAndReconciliation #DownieWenjackFund

May 5, also known as Red Dress Day, is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). It is a day to honour the lives and spirits of those lost to gender-based and colonial violence, while standing with families and communities who continue to call for justice and accountability. Inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette and her REDress Project, red dresses displayed in public spaces represent the absence of those who are missing or have been taken. This day invites reflection, learning, and action, guided by the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into MMIWG. Watch DWF LIVE: Exploring Red Dress Day and the REDress Project with Jamie Black and DWF LIVE: MMIWG2S+ with Natasha Fisher available now on the DWF YouTube Channel. #RedDressDay #MMIWG2S #ReconciliACTION #JusticeForMMIWG #REDressProject