The Government of Canada today recognized Chanie Wenjack as a person of national historic significance, sparked by a student’s public history project at Brandon University.
Wenjack was an Anishinaabe boy from Marten Falls First Nation in northern Ontario who lived for three years at the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora. His life as a student and his death following his escape from the institution are representative of the experiences of thousands of children incarcerated in the Indian residential school system who were driven by loneliness, abuse, and desperation to run away and try to find their way home. In recent years, Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists and organizations have shared the story of Chanie Wenjack’s life and death to educate Canadians about the history and legacies of residential schools.
“Throughout history, the names of countless Residential School victims were erased alongside their culture and identity,” said BU student Paige Meikle, who researched and put together the project. “While Chanie Wenjack’s story is but one among many, his name endures, standing as a poignant reminder of the innumerable children whose names and experiences remain lost to time. His legacy compels us to acknowledge the silenced voices and to reckon with the ongoing impact of this tragic chapter in history.”
As part of her project, Meikle identified Wenjack as a deserving candidate, researched his story, and completed an official nomination, which led directly to this recognition.
“I’m pleased that a student’s class project—to nominate a person, place, or event of national historic significance—has led to Chanie Wenjack’s designation,” said Dr. Rhonda L. Hinther, who assigned the public history project as part of Canada: World War II to the Present course. “His story powerfully demonstrates the deep harms caused by Canada’s residential schools system, and his designation is an important step in helping to advance reconciliation efforts.”
It’s the third successful nomination to come from one of Dr. Hinther’s students. The first came about following a student’s nomination of Indigenous veteran Thomas George “Tommy” Prince; he was officially designated a national historic person in 2019. In 2022, the invention of Tackaberry skates, which happened in 1905 in Brandon, got the nod as an event of national historic significance after a student nomination.
Meikle said that projects like this during her time at BU, specifically in the history program, gave her a welcome opportunity to better understand the history of Canada and the importance of Indigenous peoples.
“I am grateful for professors like Dr. Hinther who guided me in efficient research practices and afforded me the opportunity to delve deeper into subjects with such importance, such as that of Chanie Wenjack,” she said. “As we all navigate our own journey towards Truth and Reconciliation, I am grateful that this nomination has been recognized and helps to shine a light on Chanie’s legacy to inspire and educate.”
Today’s announcement of Wenjack’s recognition was made by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, who announced 10 designations of persons, places and events of national historic significance under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration, including Chanie Wenjack.
These designations honour the diversity of history in Canada by commemorating a range of subjects, including Indigenous Peoples, women, architecture, technology, and Acadian history.
“National historic designations recognize significant persons, places, and events, all of which help define the Canada of today,” Guilbeault said. “Today’s announcement, which commemorates stories from across Canada, reflects the breadth and depth of our shared history, honouring the country’s past, in all its richness and diversity.”
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada’s past and present.
For more information on today’s announcement, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/parks-canada/news/2025/03/government-of-canada-recognizes-10-new-designations-of-national-historic-significance.html
For more information on Chanie Wenjack, a National Historic Person, visit: https://www.parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/personnage-person/chanie-wenjack
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