Farewell, Tragically Hip – and Thank You for the Music
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National Farewell, Tragically HIp – And Thank you for the Music If there was ever any doubt DNA to like the Tragically Hip,” emotional experience. About that music can unite a country, said Canadian musician Dallas 11.7 million people tuned in that doubt was shattered this Green. when the CBC streamed it live. past summer. Th at was when A sad announcement Hundreds of viewing parties Canadians of all backgrounds were held across Canada, and and ages came together to Th e reason the Hip probably Kingston offi cially proclaimed celebrate what was likely the won’t be on the road again is a the date Th e Tragically Hip Day. last cross-country tour of Th e sad one. In May, the musicians Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tragically Hip. announced that Mr. Downie, who writes the band’s lyrics, has was among the thousands of Th e Hip, as fans call the terminal brain cancer. Th e band eager fans in the arena. group, is arguably the nation’s promised fans one last tour in “[Mr. Downie’s] status as an most beloved rock band. Th e support of their latest album, extraordinary Canadian creative musicians – lead singer Gord Man Machine Poem. force and icon is not to be Downie, guitarist Paul Langlois, understated,” he said. “He is guitarist Rob Baker, bassist Gord “Th is feels like the right thing to a true original who has been Sinclair and drummer Johnny do now, for Gord, and for all of writing Canada’s soundtrack for Fay – have produced 14 albums us,” they declared. more than 30 years.” in 32 years. Th ey’ve sold millions Th eir faithful following agreed. Mr. Downie of records. Many of their hits, Every single concert ticket such as Th e Lonely End of the in Canada was gone within the activist Rink, tell truly Canadian stories. minutes of going on sale. Mr. Downie is a committed Th e band is inducted into the Emotions run high environmentalist and a strong Canadian Music Hall of Fame. proponent of clean water rights. Th e fi nal concert on August 20 He even helped stop a cement “If you’re a musician and you’re in the band’s hometown of born in Canada it’s in your Kingston, Ontario, was a highly Definitions DNA: the main chemical component of chromosomes and the proponent: a person who pleads for a cause material of which genes are made terminal: (of a disease) incurable icon: a person or thing seen as a representative symbol 2016/2017: Issue 2 What in the world? • Level 1 Page 9 National Farewell, Tragically HIp – And Thank you for the Music company from burning tires for fuel near the village of Bath. The terrible legacy of residential schools In the 19th century, the Canadian government made a tragic misstep. Th e Hip are also long-standing It wrongly assumed that it would be best for First Nations, Métis friends of First Nations. At the and Inuit peoples to learn English, accept Christianity and embrace fi nal concert Mr. Downie said Canadian customs. Th e idea was that aft er a few generations, native that we have been trained to traditions would disappear. Aboriginal communities would then join ignore aboriginal issues. Later, so-called mainstream Canadian society. he announced a solo album, To advance this policy, the government funded church-run residential Secret Path, about a terrible era boarding schools to teach aboriginal children Canadian ways. In all, in Canada. It is part of a project about 30 percent of aboriginal children – 150,000 – were torn from their that includes a graphic novel families. Th ey were forced to live at 130 of these schools between the and an animated fi lm. Together, 1870s and 1996. they outline the tragic story of Many of the children who attended residential schools were abused and Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old severely mistreated by their teachers and caregivers. All were lonely and boy who died 50 years ago aft er longed to be with their families. Some, like Chanie Wenjack, tried to running away from a residential escape and return home. school. Profits will go to the National Centre for Truth and As many as 6000 children died while in the residential school system. Survivors oft en came home traumatized. Th ey also felt alienated from Reconciliation (NCTR) in their families. Manitoba. Wake up, Canada! In the late 1990s, former students began suing the federal government and the churches that ran the schools. Th eir cases led to the 2006 “Gord is… leading by example,” Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. It provided said Ry Moran, head of the compensation to former students and called for the establishment of NCTR. “He’s saying, ‘Wake up! Th e Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). We’ve got work to do, Canada!’ In 2008, then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized on behalf of That’s really, really significant.” the Government of Canada to former residential school students, their families, and communities. Th at same year, the TRC was launched If Canadians love and respect to learn the truth about what happened in residential schools and to the humble Mr. Downie, the inform all Canadians about their fi ndings. feeling is mutual. Th e TRC travelled the country for six years, listening to nearly 7000 “Thank you everybody,” he witnesses. Its fi nal report was delivered in December 2015. Th e report said as The Hip closed its final included 94 recommendations for changes in policies, programs and energetic three-hour set after the “way we talk to, and about, each other” to repair the relationship three encores. “Thanks for between aboriginal people and the rest of Canada. listening to that. Thanks for At the end of the TRC mandate, the National Centre for Truth and listening, period.” J Reconciliation was created. It is a permanent home for all the materials gathered by the TRC so that all of Canada can learn from the hard lessons of this black mark in Canadian history. Definitions legacy: something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past Page 10 What in the world? • Level 1 2016/2017: Issue 2 National Farewell, Tragically HIp – And Thank you for the Music ON THE LINES Answer the following in complete sentences: 1. How many albums have Th e Tragically Hip recorded? 2. Name the lead singer of this band. 3. What did the Hip announce last May? 4. Describe the last concert that this band played. 5. Explain why the federal government set up residential schools for aboriginal children in the late 1800s. 6. How did residential schools operate? 7. How many children were forced to attend these schools? How were many of these children treated? 8. Who was Chanie Wenjack and what did he do? 9. How does Mr. Downie plan to remember Chanie and others who suff ered in residential schools? 2016/2017: Issue 2 What in the world? • Level 1 Page 11 National Farewell, Tragically HIp – And Thank you for the Music BETWEEN THE LINES An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence. A plausible inference is supported by evidence in the article and is consistent with known facts outside of the article. What inferences can you draw from the fact that the CBC broadcast the Hip’s fi nal concert live and commercial-free – a decision that cost the corporation millions in advertising dollars? BEYOND THE LINES What does music mean to you? Who is your favourite singer or band? Can you describe a time when a song helped you through a tough time in your life? JUST TALK ABOUT IT 1. a) What is your understanding of the term ‘icon’? b) In what ways could the Hip be considered a Canadian icon? c) What other examples of Canadian icons can you suggest? Explain. 2. As you see it, what is the signifi cance of Th e Tragically Hip? Explain. ONLINE Note: Th e links below are listed at www.lesplan.com/en/links for easy access. 1. Watch coverage of the sad news that Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie has terminal cancer on Th e National at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZdGSsD99sQ 2. Read a Maclean’s article about Gordon Downie at http://www.macleans.ca/culture/how-we-will-miss-gord-downie-and-the-tragically-hip/ 3. Learn more about Mr. Downie’s type of cancer and the foundation that he is raising money for at http://sunnybrook.ca/foundation/ 4. Hear Gord Downie’s voice in the trailer for Secret Path and learn more about this multimedia project at http://secretpath.ca/ 5. Watch the Kingston concert at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zIc48hkvEs 6. Explore videos, read fi ndings, and stay connected to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s important work at http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=3 7. Watch news coverage from Th e National about the TRC’s fi nal report at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKKLgwlosaw J Page 12 What in the world? • Level 1 2016/2017: Issue 2.