National
Aboriginal
Veterans
Monument
in Ottawa

This monument is raised in sacred and everlasting honour of the contributions of all Aboriginal Canadians in war and peacekeeping operations.

Many thousands of Aboriginal people saw action and endured hardship in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. They served with honour and distinction in all branches of the service and in every rank and appointment from Private to Brigadier. They fought overseas to defend the sovereignty and liberty of allied nations, in addition to supporting the cause at home. Their dedication continues in peacekeeping operations in faraway lands.

Their heroic acts earned many decorations for bravery as well as the respect and enduring friendship of their comrades in arms. Hundreds from across Canada gave fully of their lives so that all Canadians might know peace and inherit freedom.

We who would follow in their path are humbled by the magnitude of their sacrifice and inspired by the depths of their resolve. We owe them a debt of gratitude we cannot soon hope to repay.

Unveiled by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.D. Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces on June 21, 2001, National Aboriginal Day.

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The sculptor, Lloyd Pinay, has said that "the major theme was that the reason for war is in all likelihood a desire for peace".

The monument depicts a golden eagle as the messenger between the Creator and man. The eagle or Thunderbird also symbolizes the Creator and embodies the spirit of the Aboriginal people. Below the eagle are four human figures, facing the four points of the compass and representing First Nations, Inuit and MŽtis. Pinay felt it was very important to incorporate female figures in the sculpture to acknowledge the role of women not only as nurses, but as those responsible for maintaining families while the men were away.

The human figures hold not only weapons but also spiritual objects: an eagle feather fan and a peace pipe. There are four animal figures, one on each corner to act as spirit guides, each with a special attribute: a wolf (family values), a buffalo (tenacity), an elk (wariness) and a bear (healing powers).Wikipedia

The Bay Observer Article: "The observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this week may serve to remind Aldershot residents of the contributions made to their community by Indigenous people. In fact, a monument saluting their work has existed on the property of East Plains United Church since 2015.

"The inscription reads: 'To honour the many untold stories of Native agricultural workers and their families who lived and laboured in historic Aldershot'.""

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Ottawa Citizen Article: "...the legal definition of Métis established by the Supreme Court in a 2003 ruling has been broadened to now include those that self-identify as Métis and have a historic connection to a Métis community...

"This ruling will change the way our federation operates and the place of almost 700,000 Métis and non-status Indians in that system. It is a somewhat paradoxical decision: Including these groups as "Indians" under Section 91.24 of the Constitution has a patriarchal consequence of making them the responsibility of the federal government (just like banking or postal services, for example) something that has not worked out well for other indigenous groups; but it also extends a status to negotiate their relationship with the federal government."

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The CAMH's (Center for Addiction and Mental Health) National Aboriginal Day Celebration included the presentation of the Chapin A'sin Elder Vern Harper Award for Excellence in the Provision of Culturally-Based Practice.

This year's winner was Elize Hartley, Elder-in-Residence with McMaster University in Hamilton.

"Our youth need identification. I found that when I went into the high schools and presented the aboriginal ways and ceremonies and talked about ceremonies, talked about tradition, talked about nation, those people, those young people got an identity," said Hartley.

"When we started a few years ago talking and bringing the cultures they said, 'I don't know who I am'. And I said, 'We'll find out', and so we did. They just seemed to bloom."

"Native women are missing because of the way they live. Live in abject poverty, not educated well enough to get a job that pays them enough to survive. Most of them are single moms who raise children - what do they do? Go and become prostitutes. These women work for whatever they can get. The idea that they can do that plays on their mind - what do they do? Drink and drugs. It's a lose-lose situation. I get involved with Aboriginal youth and talk to them about their identity - if you can show people their identity, they have something to hang on to. I think more people need to know that in order for Aboriginal people to get on their feet, we have to start looking at children in the elementary schools. We have to work together to make sure that the history of Canada, for instance, is properly written and shows what actually happened to Aboriginal people. Human Trafficking is at the basis of a lot of troubles for the Aboriginal women. The system doesn't work for them, it works against them. We have to start looking at education for Aboriginal students. Once Aboriginal students get their diploma, they can go to college. Somebody needs to do the foot work." - Elize Hartley