How Did the Tragically Hip Celebrate the End of Their Tour? With a Big Fishing Trip Obviously

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Aug 24, 2016

Having put a wrap on their "Man Machine Poem" tour last weekend with a nationally televised performance in their hometown of Kingston, ON, the Tragically Hip are winding down from their latest trek in the best way they know how: a relaxing fishing trip.

CBC reports that Downie and his bandmates, along with Canadian novelist Joseph Boyden, were led along the James Bay Coast by aboriginal guides. Upon arriving in northern Ontario, Downie took the time to pose for pictures with fans.


During the band's final performance, Downie took the opportunity to urge the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to attempt reconciliation with First Nations, claiming: "He's going to take us where we need to go."

"We were trained our entire lives to ignore, trained our entire lives to hear not a word of what's going on up there," Downie told the crowd later on in the performance. "And what's going on up there ain't good. It's not cool and everybody knows it. It may be worse than it's ever been." 

Trudeau, who was in attendance, was called upon later on in the show by Downie who proclaimed: "We're going to get it fixed and we got the guy to do it, to start, to help."

For the Hip's final performance, 11.7 million viewers tuned in. Read our Essential Guide to the band's work here.

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