Honouring First Nations in Alderville on Aboriginal Veterans Day

Wreath laid at Alderville First Nation cenotaph honouring First Nation veterans.
Wreath laid at Alderville First Nation cenotaph honouring First Nation veterans.

By Joey Krackle
Alderville First Nation held its Aboriginal Veterans Ceremony on November 8 – National Aboriginal Veterans Day, and invited the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAC) as a guest to this commemorative event. This was an historic event as it is the first time a federal INAC minister has ever attended an Aboriginal Veterans Day ceremony.

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett stated that she was honoured to participate in such an important celebration and this was a great opportunity for ceremony.

Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day remarked that while it is important to recognize the veterans of the past, it is also important to remember our newer veterans who are experiencing the effects Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Alderville First Nation Chief Jim Bob Marsden stated that he was honoured and proud to host the Aboriginal Veterans Day ceremony to commemorate the significant contribution by our veterans.

“Canada would not be the country it is today without the contribution of our First Nations and he hopes all Canadians will come to understand our role,” said Chief Marsden.

While other elected chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations and the Anishinabek Nation attended, the focus of the ceremony was on the First Nation veterans. Don Smoke, several days short of his 90th birthday was the oldest veteran there. When interviewed by APTN, he stated that he signed up at 17 years of age and was shipped overseas in 1945. He pointed out that while in the army, he learned a lot every day.

It is important to remember that the Anishinabek Nation played a key role in keeping Canada from becoming part of the United States during the War of 1812 and that their immense contribution was formally recognized by the government of Canada in 2012.

The well-attended ceremony at the Alderville First Nation cenotaph concluded with a grand procession led by pipers.