13/11/2024
On National Indigenous Veterans Day, UNBC joins in honouring the remarkable contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans who have courageously served Canada in conflicts from the World Wars, through to Afghanistan and peacekeeping missions.
A commemorative gathering for students, faculty and staff will be held in the Doug Little Lounge from 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., featuring information displays and a space to share written thoughts and tributes.
Indigenous Peoples served at higher rates per capita than many other groups in Canada and distinguished themselves – as snipers and scouts in the First World War and Cree-speaking code talkers were instrumental in disrupting enemy communications in WWII.
Despite their skill and acts of bravery, Indigenous Veterans faced racism, discrimination, unequal recognition and compensation. Many veterans returned home to find they’d lost their Indian status* during extended service, while others were required to surrender it to access veterans’ benefit.
As we walk the path of Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous Veterans Day is one step in acknowledging these historical wrongs, honouring the invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples’ participation in military service and paying tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Learn more about the history of Indigenous Peoples serving in the military here: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/.../people.../indigenous-veterans
(𝘈𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘵, 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘝𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴.)