Alderville First Nation remembers
By Kelly Anne Smith
ALDERVILLE FIRST NATION — Alderville First Nation citizens were joined by the local Royal Canadian Legions, government officials, and guests on November 7 for the laying of the wreaths to honour the men and women who served.
The global COVID-19 pandemic stopped the tradition of children being present to lay the wreaths at the Cenotaph.
The procession marched behind the Alderville First Nation Flag and Veteran staff, the Anishinabek Nation Flag and Eagle Staff, and the Cobourg Drum and Pipe Band to gather at the Cenotaph. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were on scene controlling traffic along Highway 45.
The Alderville Cenotaph was built in 1927. Sarah Marsden, the Grandmother of Anishinabek Nation Southeast Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief James R. Marsden, turned the sod. Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief’s Grandfather, Norman Marsden, was Chief at the time, a veteran of both wars, and acted as a Veterans Guard during the second.
Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Marsden says we must remember those that sacrificed.
“That’s the freedoms we all enjoy today. First Nations people who went overseas were treated equally with their buddies overseas. Coming home to their reserves, they were just Indians again with no right to vote, hire a lawyer for legal, and they couldn’t go into a bar, things like that.”
Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Marsden says Indigenous Veterans were treated differently.
“Returning servicemen had help purchasing a home, continuing their education and learning trades, where the First Nations veterans on-reserve were told, ‘You’re on reserve, you’ve got your homes.’ Finally, in 2000, First Nation Veterans were awarded a $20,000 compensation settlement for this wrong.”
The Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief says after the Great War, there were place namings to honour the veterans of the Vimy Ridge Battle in France. Some streets and roads around the country are named Vimy or Vimy Ridge.
“We have a cottage area on Rice Lake called Vimy Ridge to honour the veterans who died in Vimy Ridge, France. In Alderville, we had nine that never came home from the First War and three of them were at Vimy Ridge and are named on the Vimy Memorial in France.”
Two Alderville First Nation citizens died overseas during the WWII.
“Out of all of our members that signed up and served overseas, we have one veteran still living today, Don Smoke,” notes Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Marsden.
Alderville First Nation has always honoured its Veterans on the Sunday before Remembrance Day says Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Marsden.
“That way, everyone can attend. We get a lot of participation. We have to remember our veterans.”
Wearing the traditional bonnet, Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe and citizen of Mississauga First Nation #8, was in attendance.
“This past Sunday, it was my pleasure and honour to attend the Alderville Remembrance Day ceremony on behalf of the Anishinabek Nation. It is essential to acknowledge our Veterans and Ogitchidaa as Anishinabek has had a long history of protecting our land and people. We thank them, honour them, and respect them for their service and sacrifice. These displays of respect, remembrance, and acknowledgment are necessary to ensure their lives are never forgotten.”
Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Marsden says it is his family tradition of attending the Alderville Remembrance Service.
“We want to make sure our grandkids recognize our family and other families of Alderville for their service. My grandpa Norman, my dad Robert and his brothers served and two of them served in the States. Many men and women from Alderville that could sign up did, as with other First Nations across the country.”
There are 1,300 Alderville First Nation citizens with 320 members living on-reserve. Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Marsden notes that a church service takes place at the Alderville United Church on the Remembrance Service Day.
“There’s an old bell in that old church. They ring it for every man that died.”