First Nation, Inuit, and Metis soldiers have served—and continue to serve—as integral members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and November 8 officially commemorates their service and sacrifice with Indigenous Veterans Day.
The day was founded in Winnipeg in 1994, and since then a growing number of communities across Canada acknowledge the event.
In 2001, the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument was unveiled in Ottawa, dedicated to honouring the contributions of Indigenous people “in war and peace support operations from the First World War to today,” Veterans Affairs Canada explain.
The day “is still not very well-known,” acknowledged Chief Scott McLeod, chief of Nipissing First Nation, but “it’s very important for us to acknowledge our members who served and give them a special honour for today.”
More than 4,000 Indigenous people served in the First World War. “It was a remarkable response” having so many enlist, Veterans Affairs Canada noted, “and in some areas, one in three able-bodied men would volunteer.”
Veterans Affairs Canada mentioned that “some communities, such as the Head of the Lake Band in British Columbia, saw every man between 20 and 35 years of age enlist.”
“When you look at the number of Indigenous people who volunteered and served in the wars,” Chief McLeod said, “we represented per capita more than any other race that was in those wars from a Canadian perspective.”
The First World War was not the first time Indigenous people volunteered to serve, as many fought alongside the British in the War of 1812 and the South African War.
Over 3,000 First Nations members fought in the Second World War as well, most often serving as snipers and scouts. However, Veterans Affairs Canada reminds us that during the war the Cree language was used to transmit sensitive information via radio.
Despite the achievements and sacrifices, when Indigenous veterans returned home, they “were simply forgotten and didn’t receive many of the benefits that other veterans received,” Chief McLeod explained.
Indeed, Veterans Affairs Canada acknowledges this discrimination, noting that “Veterans’ Associations and society as a whole” treated Indigenous veterans poorly.
For example, “an Aboriginal veteran was not allowed to share a toast in honour of lost comrades with fellow veterans in a Royal Canadian Legion until 1951,” and that was only if the province where the Legion was located allowed for it.
This included Remembrance Day, so essentially, Indigenous veterans were excluded from Remembrance Day services.
“It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that Native veterans and families were authorized to lay wreaths or have their own formed guards at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Remembrance Day,” the Government of Canada explains on their website.
“The war was won,” Chief McLeod said, “but we came back to the same systemic racism and the life that we had prior to those wars.”
The Canadian Government notes that “in this day and age of reconciliation, acknowledging Aboriginal roles in the protection of Canada will help other citizens understand what true reconciliation means to the country as a whole.”
“Today we honour the bravery, service, and sacrifice of First Nation, Inuit, and Metis veterans,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.
Those who served “made great sacrifices to join war efforts, including leaving their families and communities for considerable lengths of time,” he added.
Fedeli explained he would like to thank the Indigenous veterans within the region “for their service, sacrifice and bravery, and for the many contributions they make to our community.
He also urged constituents to “learn more about the proud Indigenous military service history in Canada, and to participate in events commemorating Indigenous Veterans Day.”
“There are several places to visit and learn more,” Fedeli added, “including the Nipissing First Nation Cenotaph in Garden Village.”
Indeed, Chief McLeod mentioned that as well, as he will be attending the First Nations’ Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cenotaph on November 11.
Chief McLeod explained that this year’s event is by invitation only due to Covid-19. However, the event will be streamed live via Nipissing First Nation’s YouTube channel.
The ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m., and although not open to the public, residents are urged to visit the sacred fire and the Cenotaph throughout the day to pay their respect.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
