Children learn of their ancestors who served in the war

According to Veterans Affairs Canada, at least 3,000 status Indians - including 72 women ­ enlisted in World War II; the numbers of Inuit, Métis, and non-status are unknown, but can be assumed significant.

In Wikwemikong located on Manitoulin Island, recognized as the only unceded reserve in Canada, over 350 men enlisted. All three Peltier brothers signed up ­ Andrew, the eldest, enlisted in World War I at age 19. The first war was over before he saw action; he was sent home to farm as an essential labourer in World War II. But younger brothers Leo and David O. Peltier went to Sicily together ­ and soon parted in the midst of battle.

In September 1943, Leo was listed in the Globe and Mail as "missing" ­ the family received a letter ­ and for close to two years, assumed dead.

"I was young myself, I didn't realize what the situation was and how it hurt my mother ­ she was always praying for them," said Georgina Roy, their youngest sibling, in a phone interview. Much later, a short letter arrived. "We didn't know for the longest time ­ but he said he was alright, not to worry, but everyone was worried."

A prisoner exchange of 84 men was made in 1945, but two years in Birkenau left Leo close to death, said Georgina, who saw the German concentration camp many years later.

"He was nothing but skin and bones, they had to fatten him up in England. He used to talk about it, but not too much ­ it made him sad," she said, describing the harsh conditions. "There was a huge kettle of water and they'd throw one cabbage and a few carrots in for soup, that was all. It was terrible."

He arrived in Toronto the same day as David, and their happy reunion was reported in the Toronto Star.

"When they finally got home, they walked quite a bit at night ­ they'd get up and walk the floor ­ they still had trauma, it went on quite a while," noted Georgina. By the time they returned, she was married and had a child. Her brothers were happy to return to their own wives and the young children they'd left behind.
Supporting families during the Depression was one of the main motivations of many soldiers. "They didn't want to talk about it, what happened, the friends who were shot and killed. It was too hard, I guess we really don't understand war until we're right in it. Those men went through a lot, all those men in the army. A lot."

Georgina said many today don't think of it ­ war is just a word for them. A young vet recently returned from five years in Afghanistan, bringing memories of her brothers.

"All you'll see is tears running down their faces when they think about it. I'd advise people to really think about and have respect for these men."

David's son Alex, noted other veterans got land grants while Native veterans received nothing. Georgina agreed David had gotten just enough to buy a plough and horse team.

"They decided in the last ten years to compensate, but a lot had died already ­ my dad didn't get to see his compensation, so the family received nothing," noted Alex - his dad wasn't happy about it, but mentioned it only once that he can recall. "So the government paid off the few that managed to live until 2000 and figured that was good enough."

In Wikwemikong, kids are taught in school and at home about the great sacrifice of so many local men ­ vets from both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and current wars ­ but he thinks overall, there isn't enough awareness in Canada of the fight for country and liberty. His father always used to say that we have our freedom now because of the war, and what they fought for.
"I know I've always taken my kids to Remembrance Day and told them about their grandfather," he said.

They're now passing it on to the fourth generation; a recent picture of his two year old grandson Slade holding a picture of great-grandfather David on the cover of a Montréal paper brought tears to his eyes. "My dad had a lot of courage. He'd seen it all. He was right in the front lines."

And Slade's father, Alex Jr., and wife Katelin are determined to teach children Lexie, Slade, and Brooke, about their legacy. Living in Ottawa, they've looked up archives and attended memorials with their kids.

"They have a statue now, right near Parliament dedicated to all the First Nations vets that fought in World War I and II ­ it's quite amazing ­ eagle, wolf, and bear, we take the kids out there to see that every now and then," Alex Jr. said, adding there is little else in the way of acknowledgment. "From the stories I hear, they used a lot of Natives on the front line ­ they were a lot of the first ones to get killed."

His grandfather was instrumental in teaching him to be a man, take responsibility for his family, and respect his own parents, Alex Jr. adds.

"When he was working for the band council he'd always try to get work for unemployed people."

He adds, although his grandfather never talked about it, inequality during and after was apparent. He used to drive his grandfather to the Legion to visit with some of his old war buddies.

"He also mentioned to join the army now, it's different, they train you a lot better to be a soldier. Back then, they basically gave you a gun and sent you out there and you [didn't] know what to do," he said.

And if Slade wants to follow in his great-grandfather's footsteps? "If my son wanted to be a soldier, I'd respect his choice and back him up anyway I can."