Still failing native youth

Photo: The Canadian Press

Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie acknowledges youth choir on Parliament Hill, Sunday.

Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie made a rare public appearance Sunday to bring attention to the ongoing plight of some of Canada's young indigenous people, likening it to the same kind of pain young people suffered in the now defunct residential schools.

He told young people gathered at festivities surrounding We Day that they can learn a lot about the history of government-funded, church-run residential schools, where indigenous children endured widespread sexual, emotional and physical abuse.

Standing on the stage set up on Parliament Hill for Canada Day weekend, Downie said that indigenous children in parts of Canada still must travel great distances to go to school.

"It is still happening even though the residential school has gone away. Kids are still having to travel great distances to live and go to school," Downie said.

One day after the country marked 150 years, Downie used his brief time on stage to speak about the "new" country that would be born in the next 150 years.

"Yours is the first generation in the new and real Canada. I love you," he said to applause.