When Canadians think of war veterans, they remember men who served in the First and Second World Wars 1, or in the Korean War.
Young soldiers who have returned from modern peacekeeping duties may come to mind. We honour the veterans of those conflicts.
However, there are other veterans who have been overlooked throughout our history. In the early days of exploration and expansion in Canada, First Nations people assisted military forces to move about the country and taught them how to hunt and forage for food. Without them, the soldiers might not have survived.
Since the War of 1812, First Nations men have been fighting as regular soldiers. In 1884 during the Battle of Khartoum in Africa, Canadian Aboriginal soldiers travelled up the Nile to provide relief for British troops entrenched there. They also served in the Boer War.
More than 7,000 First Nations men volunteered with British Forces during the First and Second World Wars. At least 500 perished in those wars. Many returned home disabled or with diseases, such as tuberculosis.
More than 200 men from the Shuswap Nation in the British Columbia Interior volunteered in the World Wars, including the following men from the Canim Lake Band: Sam Archie, Henry Bob, Julian Boyce, Peter Christopher, Edward Dixon Sr., Morris Dixon, Louie Emile and Paul Theodore.
First Nations soldiers became famous for their scouting, marksmanship and acts of bravery. There are many stories of them rescuing their comrades under fire. Their level of achievement in the military was a remarkable accomplishment considering the two serious obstacles they had to overcome as young recruits. The first was a racial prejudice that was prevalent at the time and the second was a language barrier, as all instructions were in English.
First Nations veterans returned from the World Wars hoping that their achievements on the battlefields of Europe would lead to greater recognition and improved living conditions. However, not much changed for many years. They were not entitled to benefits accorded other veterans, such as land grants, mortgages and education subsides.
Although they had been proud warriors defending their country in global wars, they did were not allowed to vote federally until 1960, without losing their First Nations status.
In recent years, Canadian people have begun to acknowledge the important role played by First Nations People in the military, both in the past and at the present time. Royal Canadian Legions across Canada have made a commitment to honour all Aboriginal veterans and their ancestors with commemorative pins that represent First Nations cultures from coast to coast.
To celebrate Legion Week in Forest Grove, on June 26 commemorative pins will be distributed by Legion president Jim Tindale to the ancestors of Canim Lake Band veterans. The pins are available for purchase at Legion branches.