A moment of silence was observed at Victory Square Saturday, honouring the brave contributions Indigenous veterans have made to Canada and the world.
Indigenous Veterans Day began as a grassroots movement in Winnipeg in 1993, but it wasn’t until 1995 that Indigenous soldiers were allowed to march as a group or lay a wreath at Vancouver’s Victory Square Cenotaph.
Wreaths were laid by local organizations, community members, and representatives as they honoured the more than 12,000 Indigenous soldiers who served in the major conflicts of the 20th century.
“I think people realize that Aboriginal soldiers have served gallantly and with courage,” said Mayor Ken Sim.
“What most people don’t know is how the soldiers of Aboriginal descent were treated during their service and after their service. And it’s a shame.”
Wartime hardships often followed soldiers home, and systemic inequality meant veterans from Indigenous communities were disproportionately affected by socioeconomic issues such as homelessness or substance abuse.
“Particularly here in the Downtown Eastside, that’s always at the top of my mind,” said Joan Phillip, NDP MLA for Vancouver-Strathcona.
Advocates say more needs to be done to recognize Indigenous veterans who fought side-by-side with their non-Indigenous peers without the same rights or recognition for their service.
“How do we help people recover from that pain and trauma?” Phillip said.
“And Canada has got to step up and start doing some work on that, because they’re one of the reasons that we went through that traumatic experience in the first place.”