Remember the sacrifice

Page 4

With Remembrance Day just past, it is only fitting that we remember our soldiers who fought in the great wars. They went off nearly two million strong. Men and women from all parts of our wonderful country, a country we call Canada. Of these two million, thousands were Native people who joined the armed forces to fight in this foreign war in Europe and other places.

Many of our Native men spoke little or no English at all, coming from some remote reserves in this big country. But they overcome the obstacles and went on to meet the many challenges that were to lay ahead.

Why then would thousands of Native men make their way from every part of Canada to enlist in the armed forces, leaving behind their families, friends, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and, in some cases, wives?

It may be difficult to pinpoint reasons for this Native response to the war abroad and it caught the government by surprise as well. But the fact remains there was a tremendous response from the Native community.

Some enlisted, I suspect, because others were doing it. One Elder told me quite simply he enlisted because others on the reserve were signing up. Many enlisted for adventure. But the biggest reason was because they were patriotic. They loved the country that was once theirs and the "warrior spirit" amongst our men was simply too hard to contain.

This may seem rather strange that our Native brothers supported the war cause with such a response, because right here in Canada the Native people were being treated as second class citizens. Racism abounded in almost every community where there were Native people. Natives were not even allowed the right to cast a ballot in a federal election, nor were they able to own land that had been theirs in the first place. They were also not allowed to buy alcohol like the other citizens of Canada and they were governed by an Indian Agent on the reserves. There were many more injustices suffered by the Indian people at that time, but, in spite of it all, our Native brothers, fathers and grandfathers put it all aside and fought and died for this country.

Many Native soldiers were used as reconnaissance scouts and snipers and were very effective at their craft and won much acclaim for their deeds. Our Native soldiers fought in all the major battles of the war and they represented themselves well. Throughout the war, the Department of Indian Affairs received scores of letters from the front commending Native marksmen and scouts. As well, at least 50 decorations were awarded to "Canadian Natives" for their bravery while sniping and scouting and for performing other feats of valor during the First and Second World Wars.

To commemorate the efforts of our Aboriginal men who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War, our reserve, Alderville First Nation, located north of Cobourg Ont., built a monument to our soldiers. Their names are engraved in plaques on this monument, as are the names of our Aboriginal men who paid the supreme sacrifice during the Second World War. The monument is a tremendous demonstration of skill and effort, not to mention respect and remembrance of our Native men who left their homes to fight in a war many thousands of miles away.

Each year on Remembrance Day, the Legion Branch #133 from Cobourg, Ont., comes to our First Nation and holds a service to remember and honor our men who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the great wars. The freedoms we enjoy today are because of them.

Talk to a veteran and tell him that what he did for our country has not been forgotten and we are proud of our Aboriginal warriors who fought and died so that we might enjoy the benefits of living in a free country. I know our veterans would really appreciate that, as would their descendants.

William Michael Crowe is a Mississaga Indian and a member of Alderville First Nation.