Under softly falling evening snow, a gathering of people huddled in the peaceful surroundings of Lakeview Cemetery on Tuesday evening to honour the sacrifice made by Indigenous people during times of conflict.
National Indigenous Veterans Day was Nov. 8, a day first established in Manitoba in 1994, to remember the sacrifice and contribution Indigenous people made during their military service in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.
Blair Neatby, a Yellowknife veteran who served in Princess PatriciaSA国际影视传媒檚 Canadian Light Infantry for 35 years, led the memorial service.
SA国际影视传媒淭oday, we honour all Indigenous veterans and their service,SA国际影视传媒� Neatby said.
He noted that it was also an important way for their surviving relatives to recognize the sacrifice they made and to keep the tradition alive for future generations.
SA国际影视传媒淯p until 1994, there was no place for Indigenous people to lay wreaths at the national war memorials, so now we recognize Nov. 8 specifically to recognize their contributions,SA国际影视传媒� Neatby said.
During his address to the gathering, Neatby said approximately 12,000 Indigenous people volunteered and served during wartime. Four thousand First Nations people served in the First World War and 3,000 served during the Second World War. Between those two wars, more than 500 Indigenous soldiers never came home and are buried abroad, he said.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is incumbent upon us to remember those veterans who not only served overseas but those who continue to serve us today,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
During her public address, NWT Commissioner Margaret Thom said it was a special honour to be part of the evening ceremony.
SA国际影视传媒淓very day, and especially today, we reflect on all the Northerners who have served in various conflicts overseas, some who never came back and the ones who find it very difficult to share what were very traumatic experiences and events,SA国际影视传媒� Thom said. SA国际影视传媒淜now that we care and are extremely thankful to you.SA国际影视传媒�
Thom appealed to the attendees of the service that SA国际影视传媒渨hen you see a veteran or current member of the military, give them the time to stop, shake their hand, give them a hug and say thank you for what you have done and went through for our country and more importantly, our creator.SA国际影视传媒�
Thom also said the military service of First Nations, Inuit and Metis has deep roots.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is so important that we recognize, commemorate and remember in the spirit of reconciliation the sacrifices made by Indigenous people in their service to Canada,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
After the ceremony, lit candles were provided to individuals and placed on every Indigenous veteran gravesite in the cemetery.
SA国际影视传媒擝y Jill Westerman, Northern News Services
