The wall was lined with images and stories on Indigenous men and women who have served and sacrificed for Canada’s freedom. Some came home, some left for foreign shores and never returned to their ancestral land – many are still serving.
Indigenous Veterans Day was recognized at Portage College on November 6, beginning Veterans Week events across Canada.
Leading to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, the special ceremony drew dozens of guests to the Lac La Biche campus to share the stories of family and community members who have given their service to Canada. More than two dozen personal stories and photos were displayed on posters that created a wall-to-wall backdrop in the wanîskah ᐊᐧᓂᐢᑲᐦ cultural space at the College.
The stories highlighted veterans from both World Wars along with more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions. Indigenous members of Canada’s Armed Forces who are currently serving were also recognized. In many instances, said Portage College President, their stories and memories are all that remain. Preserving those memories and stories is vital for future generations, he said.
“I am so moved by the stories. They are so powerful,” he said. “This shows how we recognize our ongoing responsibilities to one another, to the land and to the generations that follow.”
Reading from some of the submitted stories, collected by Portage College’s Corporate Communications department, Robert Rayko said many of those veterans who fought for Canada face immense systemic barriers and discrimination before they joined the service, while in uniform and upon their return. And for those who didn’t return, the losses were felt not only within families, but within the fabric of their communities and their cultures.
“The loss of these young men meant a loss of a generation of leaders, hunters and storykeepers,” he said.
Events like the Portage College Indigenous Veterans’ Day are part of the gradual healing, said Saddle Lake Cree Nation Economic Development Specialist Armand Cardinal.
“I’m very pleased to see Portage College, through its history with Indigenous communities, Indigenous students, it’s connection to our communities, trying to do its part at reconciliation. When we talk about reconciliation – myself, I can’t get the whole picture, the whole scope of how Canada is gong to reconcile with its Indigenous community – well, this is one of those kinds of activities,” he said.
Lac La Biche resident Lavon Whitford is a recent veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. Attending this year’s Indigenous Veterans Day at Portage College, as she has for the past several years, she said the addition of the personal stories, posters and images helps to keep the stories of sacrifice alive and brings increased the awareness of Canada’s Indigenous service members. Inviting more of those stories to future events will bring more awareness.
“Next year, you’ll have to get a bigger room, I think,” she said.
Indigenous Veterans’ Day was first commemorated in 1994 in Winnipeg and is now recognized across Canada on November 8.
According to Veterans Affairs Canada, there are currently 2,700 members of the Canadian Armed Forces who identify as Indigenous. An estimated 12,000 First Nation, Métis and Inuit people have served in conflicts through the 20th Century and campaigns in the modern era of warfare.
Additional photos of the Indigenous Veterans’ Day ceremony at Portage College can be found on the College social media pages.