CONTRIBUTION · 11th November 2012
bill braam
Back in the 1960's or early 1970's my family like many others used to shop in the old Co-op department store. One person I distinctly remember was a First Nations man in a Canadian Army uniform.
I remember him as being less than 6 ft. tall with a pleasant demeanor and wearing a Canadian Army tunic and possibly also the pants that go along with it. I seem to remember him dressed like this more than once.
Now the question, who was he or possibly was there more than one like him?
At the time it was just an observation of another person but over the years this man I have learned was part of so very much more.
You see, my own heritage isn't from here but from a country half a world away called Holland. And on dutch soil many, many Canadian Army soldier lost their lives.
Quite possible this First Nations man was among the brave young men that are responsible for my very own freedom here, now in Canada after my parents immigration. Quite possibly he was also among the Canadians who fought and died in an area of south east Holland known as 'The Scheldt' and where my own grandparent was evacuated from when the fighting got too intense.
One more thing I learned over the years is that this man gave up a lot more here in Canada so I could be free. He gave up (if I'm not mistaken) his rights of status under the Indian Act while not even granted the right to be a Canadian citizen.
At this time of year when we remember those who have fallen, please remember those who gave their lives, freedoms and life long quality of life so that we here are free.
It astounds me that before I was born, before my family even came to Canada and before many can remember; Canadian men and women came from ever city, town, farm and reserve to fight for our freedom here and the freedom of people so very far away. Thank you.
A screen shot of the Aboriginal Veterans locater interactive map
Thanks for pointing this out
Comment by Christie Brown on 11th November 2012
As a child, I remember my non-native mother mentioning a Tsimshian relative of mine who she believed had fought in WWII, risking his life for our country, but returned and was still not allowed to vote.
I doubt anyone is bitter about this now, but it's a startling example of how there are (always) socially accepted injustices not commonly recognized for their vulgar realities until people point them out and change them years later. Especially against people marginalised by colonial histories.
I wonder what other disgusting injustices are occuring this year in Canada, to which most of the population is blind? How will people see our society 57 years from now?
The answer...
Comment by Helmut Giesbrecht on 6th November 2012
...BC provincial 1949 and federal in 1960.
Now might be a good time to note...
Comment by Helmut Giesbrecht on 6th November 2012
...what year it was that First Nations people got the right to vote in federal and provincial elections.
1 Tlingit and 2 We'tsewet'en
Comment by Terrace Daily News on 6th November 2012
TLINGIT
Johnson, Richard - Teslin Lake Band - Teslin, Yukon (& Carcross) - Tlingit - WWII
WE’TSEWET’EN
Tait, H.W. - Hagwilget Band [Wet'suwet'en] New Hazelton, BC - Carrier - Sekani - WWII
Tait, T.G. - Moricetown Band [Wet'suwet'en] near Smithers, BC - Carrier - Sekani - WWII
More Aboriginal Veterans from the area
Comment by Terrace Daily News on 6th November 2012
We located some additional Veterans missing from this first list.
Please feel free to add the names these lists do not include.
Johnson, D. - Glen Vowell Band - near Hazelton and Kispiox, BC - Gitxsan - WWII
Leighton, James Newell - Metlakatla Band - near Prince Rupert, BC - Tsimshian - WWI
Spence, W.P. - Port Simpson [Lax Kw’alaams] Band - BC - Tsimshian - WWII
Clarke, Milton - Lakalsap (Greenville) Band - Terrace Agency, BC - Nisga'a - WWII
3 Haisla, 11 Tsimshian, 12 Nisga’a, 7 Haida, 8 Gitxsan
Comment by Terrace Daily News on 5th November 2012
From the list of Aboriginal Veterans, as recorded by Veterans Affairs, we identify 41 possible suspects. From the link provided in a previous comment, we have produced this list. This list is by no means complete, just a list produced from the names made available.
HAISLA
Adams, Ralph - Kitamaat Village, BC - Haisla - WWII
Grant, Jacob - Kitamaat Village, BC - Haisla - WWII
Wilson, George - Kitamaat Village, BC - Haisla - WWII
TSIMSHIAN
Alexcee, R. - Port Simpson [Lax Kw’alaams] Band - BC - Tsimshian
Beynon, Richard Arthur - Port Simpson [Lax Kw’alaams] Band - BC - Tsimshian - WWI
Bolton, Cliff - Port Essington [Gitzaxłaał] Lax Kw'alaams Nation, BC - Tsimshian
Faithful, David - Port Simpson [Lax Kw’alaams] Band, BC - Tsimshian - WWI
Matheson, Robert - Metlakatla Band , BC - Tsimshian - WWI
Pearson, Daniel (Dan) - Metlakatla Band, BC - Tsimshian - WWI
Ridley, Hector - Gitxaala Nation - Kitkatla, BC - Tsimshian
Ridley, Rena (Nault) - Gitxaala Nation - Kitkatla, BC - Tsimshian
Ryan Charles (Charlie) T. - Port Simpson [Lax Kw’alaams] Band - BC - Tsimshian - WWI
Ryan, Thomas Henry - Port Simpson [Lax Kw’alaams] Band, BC - Tsimshian - WWII
Ryan, Walter - Port Simpson [Lax Kw’alaams] Band & Victoria, BC - Tsimshian - WWI
NISGA’A
Azak, Roy near Terrace, BC Nisga'a
Clayton, Chris - near Terrace, BC - Nisga'a
Davis, Jake - near Terrace, BC - Nisga'a
Gosnell, Eli - near Terrace, BC - Nisga'a
Dennis, Tommy - near Terrace, BC - Nisga'a - WWII
Gurney, Hector - Kincolith [Gingolx Band] Nass River Valley, BC - Nisga'a - WWII
Percival, Reg - near Terrace, BC - Nisga'a
Pollard, Herbert - near Terrace, BC - Nisga'a
Moody, Frank - Nass River, BC (near Terrace) - Nisga'a - WWI
Morven, Herb Sr. - near Terrace, BC - Nisga'a
Rudland, John Edward - Nass River, BC (near Terrace) - Nisga'a - WWI
Woods, Richard - near Terrace, BC - Nisga'a
HAIDA
Dix, Edward - Masset Band - Queen Charlotte Islands, BC - Haida - WWI
Funnell, Jason - BC - Haida
Greene, George Paul - Skidegate Band - Haida Gwaii [Queen Charlottes] BC - Haida - WWII
Greene, T.A. - Skidegate Band - Haida Gwaii [Queen Charlottes] BC - Haida - WWII
Jones, Stanley Owen - Masset Band - Queen Charlotte Islands, BC - Haida - WWII
Kelly, Horace - Queen Charlotte Islands, BC - Haida - WWII
Williams, G. - Skidegate Band - Haida Gwaii, BC - Haida
GITXSAN
Derrick, A.R. - Kitwanga Band [Gitwangak] Skeena River, BC - Gitxsan
Harris, Kenneth Edward - near Hazelton, BC - Gitksan
Morgan, K.W. - Kitwanga Band [Gitwangak] Skeena River, BC - Gitxsan
Morgan, R. - Kitwanga Band [Gitwangak] Skeena River, BC - Gitxsan - WWII
Mowatt, Andrew - Hazelton, BC - Gitksan - WWI
Mowatt, Charles - Hazelton, BC - Gitksan - WWI
Mowatt, David - Hazelton, BC - Gitksan - WWI
Wilson, Peter - Hazelton, BC - Gitksan - WWI
There were a lot like him...
Comment by Helmut Giesbrecht on 5th November 2012
and you can find their names here http://www.vcn.bc.ca/~jeffrey1/tribute.htm
