Unsung Heros

First commemorated in 1994 in Winnipeg, National Indigenous Veterans Day, November 8th, is a day to remember and recognize Indigenous contributions to military service in Canada.

Indigenous people have always fought along side Canadians. In times where racism was the norm, and children were being stolen away from their families, some First Nations people still chose to fight and support this nation, with hopes of finally being accepted by society, sadly this expectation was never met.

During WW1 many native men left their homes to join the fighting in Europe where they distinguished themselves as worthy allies and skilled fighters. Many serving with distinction. Many Indigenous veterans did not receive the same recognition, benefits, or support as their non-Indigenous counterparts after returning from war. This included not receiving veterans' pensions, healthcare, or other support services.

During the Second World War many Indigenous soldiers were shocked to find out that they had lost their Indian status because they had spent more then 4 years overseas and if an Indigenous person was off the reserve for more then that amount of time they were no longer considered Indian.

In some cases, Indigenous recruits were forced to abandon their cultural identities and assimilate into the dominant European-based military culture, which meant leaving behind their traditions, languages, and family ties.

The stories of Indigenous veterans have often been ignored or overshadowed by mainstream narratives of war history. Their unique experiences, especially the intersection of colonialism, war, and their service, have been largely neglected in national discussions about veterans’ contributions.

We must remember that during a time even worse than today for Indigenous people, they were still there acting as an ally, fighting and dying along side the colonial citizens of Canada.

Today is a day intended to reflect on the contributions the First Nations, Inuit and Metis people in Canada have made to further Canada's military efforts. Their bravery and contributions to our country are integral to our shared history.

Thank you to the Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario for your continued support for my artistic endeavours and for fully funding this project.