Indigenous Remembrance Day

In every major battle that Canada has ever fought in, from World War I, II to the Korean War, Indigenous peoples joined the front lines. It is estimated that over 12,000 First Nation People including an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and Nonstatus Indigenous men and women served. It wasn’t until 1995 that Indigenous veterans were allowed to lay a wreath at the National War Memorial to honour the fallen.

Indigenous Veterans Day started in Winnipeg in 1994, on November 8th, as a way to recognize the importance of Indigenous Veterans, who were not recognized during traditional November 11th ceremonies. The contributions of Indigenous people goes beyond volunteering to serve. While some men and women enlisted in the military, First Nation communities around Canada donated money, food and materials as well as provided land for airports and defence installations

Why a Different Day?

Indigenous Veterans Day is important not only to recognize the contributions of Indigenous men and women who served but it is also a time to reflect and understand that not all veterans of Canada were treated equally. Although Indigenous and non-Indigenous people both lost their lives during these wars, Indigenous veterans returned as heroes but not treated as such. Returning veterans faced discrimination through denial of benefits, pension, loss of status and loss of their land to non-Indigenous veterans.

By acknowledging this day, we are able to reflect on our nation’s military history from the perspective of these marginalized veterans to understand how great a sacrifice Indigenous individuals made for Canada and those contributions they made to ensure Canada’s freedom.

• • Charles Henry Byce, Cree, Chapleau, Ontario

  • William Cleary, Innu, Pointe-Bleue, Quebec

  • Sam Glade, Mi’kmaq, Nova Scotia

  • David Greyeyes, Muskeg Lake Cree Band, Saskatchewan

  • Tom Charles Longboat, Onondaga, Six Nations Grand River Reserve, Ontario

  • George McLean; Nk’maplqs (Head of the Lake) Okanagan Indian Band, BC

  • Oliver Milton Martin, Mohawk, Six Nations Grand River Reserve, Ontario

  • Big Feather Dr. Gilbert Monture, Mohawk, Six Nations Reserve, Ontario

  • Henry Louis Norwest, Metis, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta

  • Francis Pegahmagabow, Ojibway, Wasauksing First Nation, Ontario

  • Joseph Roussin, Mohawk, Kanehsatà:ke Band, Quebec

  • Alexander Jr and Charles Smith, Six Nations, Ontario

  • Tommy Prince - Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Manitoba (Canada's most decorated Indigenous veteran)

  • Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture - Mohawk First Nations, Ontario (first Indigenous nurse to serve)

  • Francis Pegahmagabow (He is one of the fiercest snipers in Canadian war history)

Please note that this is in no means the full list, just a sample list that we wanted to recognize

*Citations from Veterans Affairs Canada website

From the CBE Indigenous Ed Team - This video features Elder Dr. Clarence Wolfleg sharing his experiences as an Indigenous Veteran as well as Elder Frank Turning Robe and his son, Knowledge Keeper Darcy Turning Robe who share two honour songs. Video time - 20 mins

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/a50d6a73-35a4-4f39-8c51-5b20adbb0c2a?referrer=https:%2F%2Finsite.cbe.ab.ca%2F

Credits:

https://www.legion.ca

https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/indigenous-war-heroes-good-men

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/classroom/aboriginal-veterans-dog-tags

2021-2022 Remembrance Day Committee:

Bob Benner, Pari Chehrehsa, Bill Hilton, Kai Kleinitz, Matthew Meldrum, Julie Oppenheim, Keshini Senanayake, Jeff Thompson