Remembrance Day: The forgotten Indigenous warriors

As an Indigenous Christian I have come to identify with my people more and more as I study our history in many areas. When Indigenous men went off to war some great things happened. There was the group made up of a variety of Indigenous men, from several tribes, such as Mohawk, Lakota, Cree, and others, who were code talkers in World War II.  The last of these men died at the age of 94. Louis Levi Oakes, was honored by the Assembly of First Nations before he died. Louis served in the USA military, but was from Akwesasne, which runs a border between Quebec, Ontario and New York.  These code talkers used their dialect to confuse the language of the enemy.   Often though they are the forgotten Indigenous warriors.

My first recollection of Remembrance Day was in my Grade Six class. A teacher in the school was a World War II veteran. He told some stories that day, but my 11-year-old mind can’t remember them. What I do remember is the personal connection with a war veteran and the well-known poppy that is worn during this time of the year. The poppy pins coming out before November 11 and how I have proudly worn them. 

I often pin them in my car’s visor for me to see every time I get in the car and for others passing by. One year I came across a white puppy dog pendant with poppies all over it. I proudly had that pinned in my car for all to see. I am so thankful for these veterans and their sacrifice for our country.  

The veterans of Canada’s wars are remembered on Remembrance Day, but minority groups and Indigenous people were often treated differently. According to a document by the government of Canada,https://www.veterans.gc.ca/public/pages/remembrance/those-who-served/aboriginal-veterans/native-soldiers/natives_e.pdf       

Indigenous men were discouraged from enlisting as volunteers in the war, because they were seen as savages and the military was concerned that the enemy would treat these Indigenous volunteers with more cruelty if captured. According to this document many Indigenous men were chosen as snipers and scouts because of their traditional skills of hunting. 

Despite the efforts Indigenous men made in the war, these brave men were denied benefits. According to another report by the House of Commons in 2019,  there were a greater number of Indigenous men who volunteered for the wars than non-indigenous men, but they were still denied benefits for their efforts. Unfortunately, this is another example of the systemic racism, prejudice, and injustices that Indigenous people have been subject to throughout the history of Canada.

As an Indigenous Christian, my heart goes out to these men who fought on the front lines of our wars. In memory of them I look to the Psalms for help to acknowledge their pain from the past. Although most veterans have passed on, I still want to acknowledge their pain and sacrifice by saying that God has heard their cries of injustice. I honour their suffering by giving us Psalm 12 to read, as a lament and acknowledgment for this injustice, and acknowledge that God is still in control and will take care of those who seek Him. 

Psalm 12 says, “Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.² Everyone lies to their neighbour; they flatter with their lips but harbour deception in their hearts. ³ May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue –  ⁴ those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?” ⁵ “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” ⁶ And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. ⁷ You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, ⁸ who freely strut about when what is vile is honoured by the human race.”

Unfortunately, this is the story of my people. They have been lied to and been treated with injustices beyond comprehension. Yet, they are determined to move forward. With the calling God has on my life to work with my fellow people and non-Indigenous people I am determined to move forward as well. I don’t want to be trapped in unforgiveness and resentment about the past. But I do want to acknowledge the past for what it is and then move forward. This way I don’t downplay the suffering of my fellow people, but I also don’t stay stuck in the past. 

This is a choice that everyone must make with any injustice they have endured, or any injustice their ancestors have endured. The bottom line is that we all must cry out to the LORD for help no matter what is going on in our lives. Yet, this reminder of Remembrance Day from an Indigenous perspective, helps me heal that much more, and will help you as the reader understand what my fellow Indigenous people have gone through with regards to this era of history.  

After learning more about the history of my fellow people in the World’s Wars, I have come to appreciate them that much more, as people who fought for the very country that has looked down upon them for years. Code talkers, snipers, scouts, and many more untold stories are the contributions my fellow Indigenous people have made to help this country move forward in freedom. Let’s thank God for them along with all the other war veterans that fought for this country.