John Moses recounts that upon his father Russell Moses’ return from the Korean War, the challenges persisted. In 1952, the Indigenous residential school survivor was denied entry to a bar in Hagersville, Ont., due to his ethnicity, as per his son.
According to John Moses, a member of the Delaware and Upper Mohawk bands from Six Nations of the Grand River and a third-generation Canadian Armed Forces member, his father faced discrimination despite his service in the navy during the Korean War and later in the air force. John’s grandfather, Ted Moses, was also part of the air force in Ontario during World War II.
Moses, who served as a communicator research operator in the 1980s with the Armed Forces before transitioning to the Canadian Museum of History as the director for repatriation and Indigenous relations, highlighted the irony faced by returning veterans. He emphasized that despite fighting for other nations’ sovereignty abroad, Indigenous veterans returned to a country where they did not have the same civil and political rights as other Canadians.
Indigenous Veterans Day, observed in Canada, commemorates the wartime experiences of Indigenous individuals. Historian Scott Sheffield notes that for some Indigenous fighters, the military provided a sense of belonging away from the racism prevalent at home.
Initially established as a grassroots movement in Winnipeg in 1993, Indigenous Veterans Day has evolved into a nationally recognized occasion, often seen as a precursor to Remembrance Day on November 11. Sheffield, an associate professor of history at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, emphasized that the motivations for Indigenous individuals to enlist varied, including seeking adventure, economic reasons, and making a political statement by declaring their right to be part of Canadian society.
Celebrating Indigenous Veterans Day sheds light on the challenges faced by Indigenous soldiers, including the desire for acceptance and purpose post-war. The camaraderie experienced during wartime often dissipated upon their return home, leaving many feeling marginalized once again.
The federal government recognizes the significant contributions of Indigenous veterans, with over 4,000 Indigenous individuals serving during World War I and more than 3,000 during World War II. Sheffield believes the actual number of Indigenous soldiers who served in World War II could be higher than recorded figures since ethnicity or race was not consistently documented.
Efforts to honor Indigenous veterans, such as the Last Post Fund Indigenous Initiative, aim to provide dignified funerals and military gravestones for all veterans. The initiative, launched in 2019, has seen the placement of over 265 grave markers and involves Indigenous community researchers in locating unrecognized veterans’ graves.
As Canada advances in reconciliation efforts, acknowledging the sacrifices and contributions of Indigenous veterans remains a crucial aspect. The Last Post Fund Indigenous Initiative continues to support these efforts, ensuring that Indigenous veterans receive the recognition and respect they rightfully deserve.