Westbank First Nation commemorates Indigenous veterans

It was cold but that didn’t dampen the mood at the Westbank First Nation (WFN) as National Indigenous Veterans Day was acknowledged.

The day is of remembrance and commemoration of the contributions of Indigenous veterans in the First and Second World Wars as well as the Korean War.

WFN council member Jordan Coble said it’s important the day continues to be celebrated as it looks to build a dialogue about the role of Indigenous veterans and their contributions.

“Canada would not be Canada without Indigenous people whether that means you’re fighting for your country in wars or standing up for your human rights as an Indigenous person,” he said. “We all look after one another in the original times, and we need to go back to looking after one another as we move forward.”

Coble is optimistic more people will start to recognize and understand the sacrifice Indigenous veterans faced when they would lose their recognition as status Indians.

“The more that we can have these types of engagements and the more that we can get that story out there, the more we can share it in celebration in each other and how we all sacrificed for Canada, for America, for who we are as a people and the ability to be who we need to be,” he said.

The veteran memorial statue that sits at the WFN community services building was created by Smoker Marchand from the Colville Tribe in Washington state. It symbolizes the Indigenous veterans who come home for their community and make sure they are cared for and protected upon their return.

“He created the sculpture to recognize that our veterans, our warriors have fought for our people and our nation, and it crosses the imaginary American Canadian border,” Coble explained. “It recognizes that our people are one and we always fight for what’s right for our community, our languages, and the nation we have as the Okanagan people.”

National Indigenous Veterans Day began in Winnipeg in 1994.