REGINA, Sask. — Indigenous veterans were honoured Monday at First Nations University of Canada, where speakers reflected on the sacrifices of those who served Canada while facing discrimination that continued long after they returned home.
The annual Indigenous veterans remembrance service took place at the First Nations Veterans Memorial Tipi on the university's Regina campus. The ceremony included a pipe ceremony, traditional songs, speeches and a moment of silence.
First Nations University president Jacqueline Ottmann said Indigenous people have served in conflicts ranging from the War of 1812 and the two world wars to Korea, Afghanistan and modern peacekeeping missions.
Veterans Affairs Canada estimates that as many as 12,000 Indigenous people served in the First and Second World Wars. Many never returned home.
“Without these brave soldiers who volunteered despite the challenges they faced, leaving their families and communities, learning a new language, adapting to cultural differences, coping with racism and enfranchisement, we would not have the privilege or the many freedoms that we have today,” Ottmann said.
Ottmann also shared the stories of two Indigenous veterans whose service she said deserves to be remembered.
Mary Greyeyes-Reid, from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, enlisted in Regina in 1942 and became the first Indigenous woman to join the Canadian Army. Greyeyes-Reid served with the Canadian Women's Army Corps and was posted to England during the Second World War.
Ottmann also spoke about Joseph Dreaver, a First World War veteran and grandson of Chief Mistawasis, who enlisted in 1916 and was awarded the Military Medal for his service. During the Second World War, despite being too old for overseas service himself, Dreaver drove 17 men from his reserve to Saskatoon to join the military, including three of his sons.
Ottmann encouraged people to learn more about veterans whose experiences are not always included in the broader history of Canada's military service.
“Another way of honoring the bravery of our Indigenous warriors is to learn their stories,” she said.
Recognition did not end when the wars did
Robin Cody, a U.S. Navy veteran and member of the Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association, said Indigenous veterans often returned to a country that did not provide them with the same recognition, benefits or opportunities as other veterans.
“Many returned to communities where the freedoms they had fought to defend were not fully extended to them,” Cody said.
Cody spoke about her family's military history, including a grandfather who served as a paratrooper during the Korean War. Growing up, she heard stories of his service and was taught to be proud of him. As a veteran herself, she said she came to better understand the personal struggles he carried after returning home.
She said remembrance must extend beyond military service to recognize the people behind the uniforms and the challenges they faced.
“That is why remembrance must be about more than honoring the uniform. It also must be about honoring the human that wore it,” Cody said.
Cody added that the opportunities she has had as an Indigenous woman and veteran were shaped by the sacrifices of earlier generations.
“I believe one of the greatest ways we can honor our grandfathers is to live a life that does not limit itself to what others believe is possible for us,” she said.
Andrew Daniels, president of the FNUniv Regina Students Association, said Indigenous veterans returned from overseas to continue fighting for rights and recognition at home.
“They were fighting for rights. They were fighting just to be recognized as people,” Daniels said.
He said the efforts of earlier generations helped create opportunities for Indigenous people today, including institutions such as First Nations University.
“Their fighting was not for nothing,” Daniels said. “We're carrying on the traditions that they went on to fight for.”
Passing the stories to future generations
Dean Lerat, chief of the File Hills First Nations Police Service, said remembering Indigenous veterans also means recognizing the experiences of those who returned with physical and psychological wounds.
He drew a connection between the experiences of veterans and the trauma that can affect people working in policing and other first-responder roles.
“Being able to come together to honor our past veterans and warriors gives us another avenue for healing in many ways,” Lerat said.
Lerat said younger generations need to understand the contributions of Indigenous people who served and the sacrifices made by their relatives and ancestors.
“These stories are part of our history. They are part of our identity. They deserve to be told, shared and remembered,” he said.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Robin McNeil also addressed the historical reasons for having a separate day of recognition, saying Indigenous veterans were not treated equally after the First and Second World Wars.
“National Indigenous Veterans Day exists alongside Remembrance Day because the stories and contributions of Indigenous veterans were historically overlooked,” McNeil said.
McNeil also recognized Indigenous members currently serving in the RCMP who have military backgrounds, including individuals who deployed overseas.
For Ottmann, the ceremony was an opportunity to honour those who served while reminding people not to take their freedoms for granted.
“Let us not forget or take for granted our freedoms and our sense of dignity,” she said.
