Secret Path facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Secret Path |
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 18, 2016 | |||
| Recorded | November 3–10, 2013 November 27–December 2, 2013 |
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| Studio | The Bathouse Recording Studio, Bath, ON, Canada, | |||
| Length | 41:10 | |||
| Label | Arts & Crafts Productions | |||
| Producer | Kevin Drew, Dave Hamelin | |||
| Gord Downie chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Pitchfork Media | |
Secret Path is a special project that tells a story using many different ways. It includes a ten-song music album, a graphic novel (like a comic book), and an animated TV film. It also has learning materials.
This project was released on October 18, 2016. The main part of Secret Path is a concept album. This means all the songs tell one big story. The story is about Chanie Wenjack, a young Anishinaabe boy. He was from the Marten Falls First Nation.
Chanie died in 1966 while trying to go home. He had run away from a residential school. These schools were places where Indigenous children were sent away from their families. The goal was to make them forget their own culture.
The Secret Path album was the fifth and last album released by Gord Downie during his life. Gord Downie was a famous Canadian singer. He wrote the graphic novel, and Jeff Lemire drew the pictures. The animated film was shown on CBC Television.
All the money made from the album and book goes to a special place. It goes to the University of Manitoba's National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. This center helps people learn about the history of residential schools. It also helps with healing and understanding.
Gord Downie performed the album live in a concert on October 21, 2016. Members of Chanie Wenjack's family were there. This was Gord Downie's last full concert. The concert was later shown on CBC Television in 2017 after he passed away.
In 2018, a documentary called Finding the Secret Path was made. It was created by Gord's brother, Mike Downie. This film showed how the Secret Path project came to be.
The Album
The album Secret Path is the main part of this project. It was Gord Downie's fifth album. It was also the last album he released before he died. All the money from the album helps the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Album Songs
Here are the songs on the Secret Path album. Gord Downie wrote all the songs. Some songs were also written with Kevin Drew.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Stranger" | 5:33 |
| 2. | "Swing Set" | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Seven Matches" | 3:31 |
| 4. | "I Will Not Be Struck" | 4:02 |
| 5. | "Son" | 3:17 |
| 6. | "Secret Path" (Downie, Kevin Drew) | 4:12 |
| 7. | "Don't Let This Touch You" (Downie, Drew) | 5:05 |
| 8. | "Haunt Them, Haunt Them, Haunt Them" (Downie, Drew) | 5:02 |
| 9. | "The Only Place to Be" | 2:55 |
| 10. | "Here, Here and Here" (Downie, Drew) | 4:13 |
Album Creators
Many talented people worked on the Secret Path album.
- Gord Downie sang and played guitar.
- Charles Spearin played bass.
- Ohad Benchetrit played lap steel and other guitar parts.
- Kevin Hearn played extra keyboard parts.
- Dave "Billy Ray" Koster played drums.
- Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin played all other instruments. They also produced and mixed the album.
Live Shows
Gord Downie performed the album live in a concert. This happened at Roy Thomson Hall on October 21, 2016. Members of Chanie Wenjack's family were there to watch.
The concert was filmed for a TV special. It was called Gord Downie's Secret Path in Concert. This special also showed behind-the-scenes moments. It included parts of the animated film.
Gord Downie and his friends performed the album again. This time it was in Halifax on November 29, 2016. This was his very last performance. The TV special aired on CBC Television on October 22, 2017. This was shortly after Gord Downie passed away.
The Book
| Author | Gord Downie |
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| Illustrator | Jeff Lemire |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
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Publication date
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October 18, 2016 |
| Media type | Paperback |
| Pages | 96 |
| ISBN | 9781501155949 |
The graphic novel is also called Secret Path. Gord Downie wrote the story for it. Jeff Lemire created the drawings. Simon & Schuster published the book.
It was released on October 18, 2016. This was the same day the album came out. Just like with the album, all money from the book helps the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
The Film
The animated film is also called The Secret Path. It brings Gord Downie's album and Jeff Lemire's graphic novel to life. The film has ten parts. Each part matches one of the ten songs from the album.
Gord Downie was one of the main people in charge of making the film. His brother Mike Downie and Patrick Downie also helped. Sarah Polley was also an executive producer.
The film was shown as a special on CBC on October 23, 2016. It was an hour long.
Images for kids
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The cover art for the Secret Path album.
