St. Mary's First Nation marks National Indigenous Veterans Day

The sun shone bright as wreaths were placed at the MaqiyahtimokCentre at St. Mary's First Nation in Fredericton.

Community members,police, active military and government representatives came together Monday to remember the sacrifices made by Indigenous veterans during wars.

Chief Allan Polchiesspoke in an interview about the Second World War.

"The important thing to understand about the Indigenous veterans' participation in the Canadian war is that almost 4,000 of them came forward one of the first people to come forward to serve in this country and to protect the country and to bring it to its freedom today."

Veterans Affairs Canada estimates near the end of 1945, more than 3,000 First Nations members, as well as an unknown number of Mtis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits, had served in uniform.

National Indigenous Veterans Day has beencommemorated annually on Nov. 8. since itsinception in 1994 and honours contributions to military service, particularly in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.

St. Mary's First Nation commemorates National Indigenous Veterans Day

3 years ago

Duration 2:17

Members of St. Mary's First Nation, police, military and government representatives came to remember the sacrifices made by Indigenous soldiers.

Polchiesspoke about the struggle that most Indigenous service people may have faced while fighting in the wars.

"Anumber of the Indigenous men and women that came forward, they were speaking their Indigenous mother's tongue and their culture so they were going to a foreign place, where they couldn't understand the language or having a culture shock by leaving their communities." said Polchies.

"And they took those steps forward just to ensure that all Canadians are now living a free life here in Turtle Islands."

A variety of songs and drumming accompanied the ceremony in honour ofIndigenous veterans. Drum group Muskrat Singers performedat the beginning and endof the event.

The First World War poem In Flanders Fieldswas recited in the Wolastoqey language by some of the younger members in the First Nation. For Polchies, bringing in differentgenerations to commemorate Indigenous veterans is to share knowledge and educate youth.

"The gift of freedom it's important that they understand the history, so that when they take their Earth walk each and every day, they are givinghonour."