Gord Downie. Photo courtesy of afn.ca
It was an emotionally charged moment this afternoon as the Assembly of First Nations took a moment to honour Tragically Hip front man Gord Downie for his work in the Indigenous community.
The AFN honoured the dying singer at their Special Assembly in Gatineau, Quebec in recognition of his solo project, “Secret Path,” which shines a light on Canada’s residential schools.
During a naming ceremony, Downie was honoured with a new name as “The Man Who Walks Among the Stars.”
AFN Chief Perry Bellegarde says they can’t thank him enough for helping be a voice for Indigenous issues.
“We know the struggle that he is going through, and in spite of that struggle, he took the time to acknowledge this hurt and this wrong and he challenged the government to make it right,” says Bellegarde.
Downie addressed the chiefs in assembly with an emotional thank you.
“Soon, in a few days, a couple weeks, there is 150 years that Canada wants to celebrate and I will personally celebrate the birth of our country. It will take 150 years to heal the wound of the residential schools, to become a country and truly call ourselves Canada. It means we must become one and move down a path of reconciliation from now on — together and forever. This is the first day of forever. The greatest day of my life. The greatest day of all of our lives.”
Chief Bellegarde, Downie and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shed tears during the ceremony. Later during his address, Trudeau commented that Downie was the perfect example of reconciliation in action.
Downie was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and played his last concert in August.
During this concert, he pleaded with the millions of people watching to work toward reconciliation between Canada and First Nations people.