Indigenous Veterans Day
Dec. 3, 2018
Georgian College honoured Canada’s Indigenous veterans on Nov. 8 by raising awareness through education. Lunch and learns were held at the Barrie, Orillia and Owen Sound campuses and information booths were set up to reach a larger audience.
Here are some facts that you may not have known about Canada’s Indigenous veterans:
Fact #1
Approximately one in three of age, able-bodied, Indigenous men enlisted to serve in WWI. Many of these Indigenous men lived in isolated areas of the country, where they were unfamiliar with European guns. At the time, the Canadian Government had not expected this many Indigenous people would volunteer, as the government had originally adopted a policy of not allowing ‘Indians’ to serve overseas.
Fact #2
Indigenous communities made financial contributions to general expenses of WWI. Duncan Campbell Scott, the Deputy Superintendent General of the Department of Indian Affairs reported:
“I have pleasure in drawing attention to the fact that the participation of Great Britain in the war has occasioned expressions of loyalty from the Indians, and the offer of contributions from their funds toward the general expenses of the war or toward the Patriotic Fund. Some bands have also offered services of their warriors if they should be needed.”
Fact #3
The Iroquois Six Nations of the Grand River, south of Brantford, ON, provided more soldiers than any other Canadian Indian band. Approximately 300 went to the front line and the community donated hundreds of dollars to help war orphans in Britain (and additional war-relief purposes).
Fact #4
In WWII, Indigenous soldiers took on interesting new roles such as “code talkers.” These soldiers translated sensitive radio messages into Cree so they could not be understood or intercepted by the enemy. Upon receiving the message, another Indigenous soldier would translate the Cree message to English and relay it to the troops.
Fact #5
Francis Pegahmagabow, an Ojibwe man for Parry Island Band, was the most highly decorated Indigenous soldier in WWI. Learn more about him in this video.
For more information on Indigenous veterans, please visit these links: