Honouring Indigenous Veterans Across Canada
November 6, 2024
In addition to Remembrance Day being observed on Nov. 11, this week is also a time for solemn reflection, as National Indigenous Veterans Day is Friday, Nov. 8.
National Indigenous Veterans Day is Nov. 8 and provides all Canadians an opportunity to honour Indigenous veterans and learn about the sacrifices they made, while also serving as a reminder of the inequality they faced upon returning home from war. It is a day of remembrance and commemoration of Indigenous veterans in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War.
National Indigenous Veterans Day was first observed in 1994 in Winnipeg because Indigenous veterans were not often recognized in Remembrance Day ceremonies across the country. Over 12,000 Indigenous people, including 7,000 First Nations people, are estimated to have volunteered the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War.
Students, staff and families have been encouraged to learn more about these veterans and their contributions and sacrifices by checking out the following resources:
Indigenous Veterans Day:
- https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/people-and-stories/indigenous-veterans
- https://learningbird.com/national-aboriginal-veterans-day/
- https://www.righttoplay.ca/en-ca/national-offices/national-office-canada/whats-new/honouring-indigenous-veterans-this-national-aboriginal-veterans-day/
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/aboriginal-veterans-day-2021-1.6239775
Tommy Prince:
- https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/15-great-canadian-stories-tommy-prince-decorated-and-forgotten
- https://valourcanada.ca/military-history-library/sgt-tommy-prince/
Francis Pegahmagabow:
Additional Resources:
- Post-Confederation: “Status Indians and Military Service”
- Aboriginal Veterans: Equals on the Battlefield, but not at home https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/aboriginal-veterans
- Flag-raising discussions in Canada pose questions about residential schools and what we remember
- Cree Code Talkers and some activities here
- Indigenous Peoples and the World Wars: Thousands of Indigenous peoples served in the Canadian military forces in the First World War and Second World War; most were volunteers.
Poems:
Videos:
Forgotten Warriors by Loretta Todd: https://www.nfb.ca/film/forgotten_warriors/
Tommy Prince:
Francis Pegahmagabow:
Charles “Checker” Tomkins:
- Code Talker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzkEsMYxhFM
Global News:
Other Ideas:
Lesson Plan: Indigenous Veterans (Part I) – Defining Moments Canada (Recommended Grade 9-12)
- Decorated Hide | Keepsakes of Conflict: Trench Art and Other Canadian War-related Craft
- https://redpowermedia.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/detours-mountainhorserobe.jpg
- Hill 70 – Story Robe
Other School District Indigenous Education Resources: SD 67 Remembrance Day Resources