First Nations veterans compensation close to resolution

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Pending any postponement at the federal government level, it appears the long-awaited day when First Nation war veterans will receive equal recognition for their military service to Canada is finally in sight.

A Search for Equity: A Study of the Treatment Accorded to First Nations Veterans and Dependants of the Second World War and the Korean Conflict, a report of the national round table on First Nations veterans' issues, was released at a press conference in Vancouver on May 7.

Authored by academic R. Scott Sheffield, on behalf of the round table-a group including First Nations veterans and representatives of the federal ministries of Indian Affairs, Veterans Affairs and National Defense-the report describes in detail the discrimination faced by Native soldiers when they returned home from service.

The report will be presented to Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault,Veterans Affairs Minister Ronald Duhamel and Defence Minister Art Eggleton.

All members of the round table, including the government representatives, signed off on the report, but the government representatives insisted on signing on a "without prejudice" basis.

The Assembly of First Nations' vice-chief for Saskatchewan, Perry Bellegarde, has been in charge of the veterans' portfolio at the national level. During the AFN's Confederacy of Nations meeting in Vancouver in early May, Bellegarde told the chiefs the round table members had banged out a proposal that could see each surviving veteran or spouse receive as much as $425,000.

"That's the amount the veterans are asking for," he said. "It's going to the three ministers, now."

The Saskatchewan chief said about 5,000 Native soldiers saw action and then returned home to receive second-class treatment, receiving fewer benefits than non-Native soldiers.

"Finally, after three years we are getting close to completing this process. This report is critical as it provides evidence that legitimizes our veterans' claims that they were not treated with the same respect as other veterans or that our people did not receive the same compensation for serving their country. Now that the report is complete, there is a sense of urgency to achieve a final compensation and recognition package for our First Nation veterans as many of them are passing away at an alarming rate," Bellegarde added.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indians Grand Chief Howard Anderson, the chair of the round table and himself a Second World War veteran, explained that a similar process is in the works for surviving veterans and/or spouses of the first global conflict.

"Our veterans are happy that the final report has been completed. It is unfortunate that we have lost many First Nation veterans during this process. We are hopeful that the next phase will result in a richly deserved recognition and compensation package that includes our World War I veterans," Anderson said.

The national chief also urged the federal government to deal with this issue promptly.

"Our veterans have waited longer than any other group of veterans to receive justice from the federal government. I can only hope that the government will act quickly to resolve this injustice. Our veterans are only asking for fair and equitable treatment. They do not deserve to be treated like second-class citizens any longer," said National Chief Matthew Coon Come.