What an honour to share November 8th with Indigenous Veterans' Day

November 8th has always been a special day for me. It's my cancerversary, the day I mark another year since being diagnosed with leukemia and celebrate the fact that I'm still here, still growing, and still surviving.

But this year, I learned that November 8th is also Indigenous Veterans' Day in Canada.

And while I've spent years recognizing November 8th for deeply personal reasons, I now have another reason to pause, reflect, learn, and honour those who served our country and fought for the human rights, safety, and protections many continue to fight for today. I am by no means someone who condones violence or war, but I do believe in standing up for what is right.

Knowing I share my cancerversary with such a significant day of recognition, I'll be appreciating November 8th twice as much from now on and hoping you will too.

Photo Source: https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/private-joseph-standing-buffalo-sinte-wakana-zuzuheceda-sinte-wakana/

A Little FYI:

Indigenous Veterans Day is observed every year on November 8th in Canada. 

It is a day dedicated to honouring the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people who have served in Canada's military, recognizing their sacrifices, contributions and, maybe most importantly, the discrimination and injustices many experienced both during and after their service.

But I've been learning that there's a much deeper story behind this day, and it's an important part of Canada's history that deserves more attention, especially if we want to put into action our Truth and Reconciliation.

Why November 8 matters

Did you know Indigenous Peoples have a long history of military service, dating back in Canadian records more than 200 years?

• During the First World War, more than 4,000 Indigenous people served.

• During the Second World War, more than 3,000 First Nations members served, alongside Inuit and Métis people.

• Indigenous service members also served in the Korean War and subsequent military operations.

• More than 12,000 Indigenous people are estimated to have served in Canada's military during the 20th century, with at least 500 losing their lives.

  
  

Indigenous soldiers served as infantry members, snipers, scouts, nurses and in other military roles. Some also used their language and cultural knowledge in ways that proved invaluable.

One particularly fascinating example is the use of the Cree language during the Second World War.

Cree Code Talkers

Cree-speaking soldiers, including Alberta's Charles 'Checker' Tomkins, helped develop a system of communicating sensitive military information in Cree. Because enemy forces couldn't understand the language, it provided an additional layer of security for military communications.

Now I am a little biased here, because I do love languages, but to me, this is an extraordinary example of how Indigenous languages, knowledge, and skills contributed to Canada's military efforts, and an example every person living on 'Canadian soil' should know.

The Injustice, The Truth, and The Need for Reconciliation

This is perhaps the most important part of Indigenous Veterans Day, from what I read and understand.

Indigenous people volunteered to serve and defend Canada, despite facing significant barriers and discrimination from Canada and Canadians.

Many First Nations, Inuit and Métis People were not even recognized as citizens under the discriminatory legal framework of the time, and when they returned home, they were not treated or recognized as the Canadian soldiers were.

Here are only a few examples I found:

• Veterans' benefits: Many First Nations veterans were denied access to the same pensions, grants and benefits available to non-Indigenous veterans.

• Land: Under the Soldier Settlement Act, reserve lands were taken and made available to non-Indigenous veterans. First Nations veterans were often denied equivalent opportunities.

• Treaty rights and status: Some Indigenous veterans experienced the loss of Indian Status and other rights connected to their military service.

• Recognition: Their contributions were frequently overlooked in Canada's national remembrance ceremonies and historical narratives.

  
  

Unbelievable, no?! They volunteered to defend a country that continued to discriminate against them when they came home, and let's be real, the federal government did not begin addressing some of these longstanding inequities until decades later.

And This Is Why We Shouldn't Mix It With Remembrance Day on November 11th...

From what I understand, Indigenous Veterans Day was first established in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1994. It was originally called National Aboriginal Veterans Day.

It came about because Indigenous Veterans and their contributions were not receiving the recognition they deserved, particularly during traditional Remembrance Day commemorations.

Thus, November 8th became a dedicated opportunity to recognize their service, sacrifices and experiences; it also provides an opportunity to recognize a part of Canada's military history that was and is too often overshadowed and overlooked.

How Does This Relate To Truth and Reconciliation?

Truth and Reconciliation isn't simply about acknowledging Indigenous Peoples during commemorative days or wearing an orange shirt in September for Every Child Matters.

It's also about learning the history that wasn't necessarily taught to us in Canadian education systems, acknowledging the injustices that occurred, recognizing the contributions of Indigenous Peoples, and understanding how those historical injustices continue to affect people and politics each and every day.

Indigenous Veterans defended Canada, yet many returned to a country that denied them the very rights, recognition and opportunities they had fought to protect, and unfortunately, whether we like it or not, we cannot fully honour their service without acknowledging that contradiction.

And we certainly cannot talk about reconciliation without being willing to learn these stories and acknowledge the truth.

Check Them Out: Resources That Helped Me Learn

• Charles 'Checker' Tomkins – Alberta Cree code talker.

• Tommy Prince – One of Canada's most decorated Indigenous war veterans

• Veterans Affairs Canada – Indigenous Veterans – Historical accounts and information about Indigenous military service from the government of Canada

• Office of the Treaty Commissioner – Indigenous Veterans Day – Valuable information about Treaty relationships and the injustices Indigenous veterans faced from otc.ca/

• Forever More, Stories of the Fallen - Over one million stories of soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the freedom of all https://www.cwgc.org/stories/

One final thought: 

Today, November 8th, is an opportunity to remember not only the Indigenous Veterans who served and sacrificed, but most importantly those whose stories were left out of the history books.

We owe it to them to learn, to acknowledge, and to remember.

Lest we forget,

Ashley