OTTAWA—When Pearl Achneepineskum stands on the stage to sing with Gord Downie during his solo concert in remembrance of her brother, Chanie Wenjack, she will be faced with a million emotions. “I’m ready,” said Achneepineskum backstage at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa after an emotional smudge ceremony was held with members of her family, Downie’s family and Algonquin residential school survivors from the Ottawa area. She has never played at a concert of this size, but she is ready to tell the world about her brother. Twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack froze to death on railroad tracks outside Kenora, northern Ontario, 50 years ago this Oct. 22. Article Continued BelowDownie, Canada’s beloved music icon and frontman for the Tragically Hip, is gripped by Chanie’s story and the fact that many Canadians were unaware of the country’s residential school history.

Source: thestar October 19, 2016 12:22 UTC