National Indigenous Veterans Day November 8

National Indigenous Veterans Day

On November 8, Indigenous veterans are honoured in ceremonies held in communities, schools and national observances. Ottawa holds a significant gathering to commemorate Indigenous veterans, often attended by government officials, Indigenous leaders and veterans’ families. Traditional ceremonies are an important aspect of National Indigenous Veterans Day, with some communities incorporating cultural elements such as drumming, singing and storytelling.

National Indigenous Veterans Day Livestream (Vancouver ceremony): https://www.facebook.com/people/National-Aboriginal-Veterans-Day-November-8/100038536496033/?sk=about

Indigenous members were often forced to overcome many challenges to serve in uniform, from learning a new language and adapting to cultural differences, to having to travel great distances from their remote communities just to enlist. The challenges they faced often extended to their post-service life. Many Indigenous war Veterans would not receive equal treatment compared to other Canadian Veterans.

More than 4,000 Indigenous recruits joined during the First World War for a variety of reasons, from seeking employment or adventure to wanting to uphold a tradition that had seen their ancestors fight alongside the British in earlier military efforts like the War of 1812 and the South African War. Patience, stealth and marksmanship were well-honed traits for those who had come from communities where hunting was a cornerstone of daily life. These attributes helped many of these soldiers become successful snipers (military sharpshooters) and reconnaissance scouts.

Through the Second World War over 3,000 First Nations members, as well as an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits, had served in uniform. The war brought more need for specialized skills such as being a “code talker.” Men translated sensitive radio messages into Cree so they could not be understood if they were intercepted by the enemy and another Cree-speaking “code talker” would then translate the received messages back into English. Indigenous people also contributed to the war effort on the home front by donating large amounts of money, clothing and food to worthy causes and also granted the use of portions of their reserve lands to allow for the construction of new airports, rifle ranges and defense installations.

There was a dark side to how the Canadian government treated these communities. Canada expropriated hundreds of thousands of acres of reserve lands during this era. Some of their land was also taken and given to non-Indigenous people as part of a program that granted farmland to returning Veterans. Many Indigenous people had hoped their wartime service and sacrifice would increase their rights in Canadian society. But Canada did not treat them the same as other Veterans after they returned to civilian life. Often they were denied access to full Veteran benefits and support programs.

The story of Indigenous service in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and later Canadian Armed Forces efforts is a proud one. While exact numbers are elusive, it has been estimated that as many as 12,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit people served in the great conflicts of the 20th century, with at least 500 of them sadly losing their lives.