Section 9. War Veterans

Secwepemc Warriors- Veterans of the World Wars

The Shuswap people have always believed in freedom and equality. When they were called upon to defend these values around the world, our fathers and grandfathers did not hesitate in joining the armed forces. Many Shuswap and First Nations soldiers fought in World War I and World War II, as well as other conflicts around the globe. In order to do so, they were forced to give up their Indian Status through a process called enfranchisement, which basically said they were no longer Indians under the Indian Act. They were not accorded the same rights as other veterans and were not allowed to march in the Veteran' Day parade for many years. They were refused education subsidies, home mortgages, federal government employment and land grants that were given to non-native veterans. These proud warriors were not even allowed to vote federally until 1960.

Edward and Wilfred Bennett - Secwepemc Veterans, WWII

A) Shuswap Nation War Veterans (Secwepemc News, November 2000)

The following information is a list of the Secwepemc veterans who have served in the world wars. Their Bands of origin are highlighted. Many of these warriors have passed on but will always be remembered for their valiant sacrifices.

Secwepemc News/November 2000, Shuswap Nation War Veterans

B) A Tribute to Canada's Native Aboriginal Veterans

Introduction:

Native veterans, their families and descendants have reason to be proud. Canadian Aboriginals fought and served in overseas conflicts, in addition to supporting the allied cause at home. More than 7,000 Aboriginals voluntarily enlisted in the first and Second World Wars as well as the Korean conflict. Furthermore, an unknown number of Inuit, Metis and other Aboriginals also participated. One native Veterans group estimates that 12,000 Natives served in three wars.

World War 11 ended in 1945. Fifty years were to pass before Aboriginal Veterans were allowed to lay Remembrance Day wreaths at the National War Memorial to remember and honor their dead comrades.

Early Documentation of Canadian Aboriginal's Overseas Military Service:

Canadian Natives assisted British troops overseas. In 1884, during the Battle of Khartoum in the Sudan, the British put out a call for Canadian volunteers to accompany and guide British soldiers up the Nile River. The soldiers were to provide some relief to the isolated men stationed there. General Lord Garnet Wolseley's group included nearly 400 boatmen, the Nile Voyageurs, 56 of whom were Mohawks, mostly from the Kahnawake band in Quebec, and 30 of whom were Ojibwa from Manitoba and northern Ontario. Chief Louis Jackson of Kahnawake recommended the design for the whaler boats that were used on the voyage and became a river foreman. Afterward he wrote a book about the experiences of the Kahnawake participants. Two Indians lost their lives during the perilous six-month, 19,000 kilometer expedition however, the British troops were killed two days before the rescuers arrived. Canadian Aboriginals also served with the Canadian Mounted Rifles during the South African (or Boer War) at the turn of the century.

Aboriginals and World War I

The First World War, with its trench warfare, poison gas, machine guns and artillery, literally destroyed a generation of young Canadian men. Along with them were at least 300 Canadian native soldiers. Additional lives were lost to illness, particularly tuberculosis, which thrived in the damp trenches of Europe. Countless natives returned to Canada with the beginnings of this often-fatal disease. Over four years, Canadian Aboriginals participated and earned medals for valor in virtually every major land battle.

Aboriginal People also supported the Allied cause at home, donating money and goods to the various relief and patriotic funds, and investing in victory bonds. By the time of the Armistice, donations from Indians to the various war relief funds totaled more than $44,000, a sizable sum for the times. Native women were active in this area forming patriotic leagues, Red Cross societies and other charity groups, subsequently collecting clothes, money and food for shipment overseas.

Many native recruits of the First World War followed in the steps of their veteran ancestors. One example is Cameron Bryant, Joseph Brant's great, great grandson. He commanded a platoon of the 4^th Canadian Infantry Battalion. The 28 year-old lieutenant lost his life in 1915 near Ypres, Belgium, while leading a counterattack into enemy trenches.

Throughout the First World 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, scouting and performing other feats of valor during the war. The Crown acknowledged the wartime contributions of natives. The Prince of Wales visited the Brantford area in October 1919, whereupon the Six Nations Band was presented a bronze tablet, to commemorate the 88 members who were killed in, or as a result of military action.

The Indian Affairs 1918-1919 Annual Report stated: " In this year of peace, the Indians of Canada may look with just pride upon the part played by them in the Great War both at home and on the field of battle. They have well and nobly upheld the loyal traditions of their gallant ancestors who rendered invaluable service to the British cause in 1776 and in 1812, and have added thereto a heritage of deathless honor which is an example and an inspiration for their descendants".

Aboriginals and World War II

More than 200 Canadian native servicemen were killed or died from wounds during the Second World War. Aboriginals earned a minimum of 18 decorations for bravery in action. Native soldiers participated in every major battle and campaign, including the disastrous Dieppe landings and the pivotal Normandy invasion. They also served in one of the worst imaginable theatres, Hong Kong where just under 2,000 members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the royal Rifles of Canada became Japanese prisoners of war. Included among them were at least 16 Aboriginals and Metis, nine of who died from wounds or illness. In all theatres of war, Canada's Native soldiers overcame cultural challenges and made tremendous sacrifices and contributions to Canada in its efforts to restore world peace. It was an incredible response consistent with past traditions.

The Korean Conflict

The first Canadians to serve in the region were naval personnel. Three Royal Canadian Navy destroyers sailed in July 1950, followed one month later by a Royal Canadian Air Force transport squadron. Coincidentally, two of the RCN ships, the HMCS Cayuga and HMCS Sioux, bore the names of Indian tribes. Later in the war, they were followed by the Nootka, the Iroquois, Huron, and the Haida, plus two other ships. These names were testimony to the respect Aboriginal veterans had earned within the Canadian military establishment and continued a tradition affirmed through the Second World War. In 1943, five Micmacs from Nova Scotia were honorary guests of Halifax shipyards Ltd. for the launching of the tribal class destroyer, HMCS Micmac.

While this first group of Canadians was assuming military duties, the government was organizing the recruitment of the Canadian Army special Force (CASF) for Korean service. A brigade group, the CASF was to be raised by voluntary enlistment and trained as part of the regular army.

Late in 1950, agents of the Indian Affairs Branch 85, in keeping with past practice were asked to keep track of the number of Indians who enlisted in the (CASF). By March 1951, 73 names had been recorded. A final figure of participants was not reported; evidence suggests that several hundred Aboriginals served on the battlefields and also at sea in an area that had been known, in more peaceful times, as the Land of the Morning Calm.

A Tribute to Canada's Aboriginal Veterans, 2001, www.vcn.bc

C) Canada: Aboriginal Veterans Finally Get Apology - But No Recompense

Indigenous Canadian soldiers who fought in World War II and were denied the same veteran's benefits as non-aboriginal Canadians have finally won an apology for post-war discrimination in employment, education and housing, but the government still refuses to compensate them. So far, the only sign that the Canadian government regrets its refusal to give native soldiers the same post-war benefits as non-aboriginals is its verbal apology and a promise to give Indian veterans special war medals. In return, one group of native veterans has dropped a lawsuit against the Canadian government, but others say an apology is not enough.

Treaty Indians were the only group of Canadians exempt from the conscription during both world wars, although, in per capita terms, they volunteered in greater numbers than any other Canadian ethnic group. However, when they returned from the war, they were denied the education grants, home mortgages, government jobs and cheap land that awaited non-aboriginals. Until 1960, they could not even vote. Many aboriginals returned to reservations that had been stripped of land parcels which were then handed over to non-native veterans and the Canadian government would not contribute to war memorials on native land.

In the armed forces, many indigenous people experienced a level of equality they had never seen before. Many of them are among the most highly decorated Canadian veterans, and about 200 native soldiers were killed in World War II.

The Chief of the Saskatchewan Indian Veterans Association (SIVA) says that many of his members returned to Canada, only to discover that their families had been discriminated against while they were fighting overseas. SIVA Chief Howard Anderson said his group has agreed to put a planned lawsuit on hold because the Ministers of Indian Affairs and Veterans Affairs have agreed to apologize, and grant special recognition for native veterans. He hopes that the government will negotiate some kind of compensation. "The law suit was never about money. It was about honor. Most of the veterans are gone now, and the ones who are still alive simply want to be acknowledged as equal to the rest of the veterans of the Canadian forces," he said. "We're not interested in medals for aboriginal groups. We want the government to negotiate compensation for the injustice done to us," was Chief Anderson's reply.

As a reward for fighting, the Canadian Soldier Veterans Settlement Act allowed returning soldiers to buy land at a cheap price. Ironically, some of that land came from native property that had been seized for use as military training bases. Aboriginal soldiers were never offered nor told about the land entitlement. Veteran's Affairs Minister Bob Nault stated "Aboriginal veterans have reason to be proud. More than 7,000 First Nation's people served in the First and Second World Wars and Korea, and an unknown number of Metis and other aboriginals participated. On each occasion, Canada's aboriginal soldiers overcame tremendous challenges and made impressive sacrifices and contributions to help the nation in its efforts to restore world peace. It was an incredible response, consistent with remarkable courage that neither flagged nor failed against the enemy. In partial payment for these sacrifices and achievements, Canadians have recognized a national duty, a duty to take care of those who took care of us," Nault said.

Mark Bourrie, IDS News, January 10, 2000, www.oneworld.org