A message from Carolyn Sampson, PSAC BC NIPC Female Representative
As we honour Indigenous Veterans Day, Veterans’ Week, and Veterans Day, we honour the sacrifices made by Canadians who served during times of war, conflict, and peacekeeping. Plus, those who were prepared to serve during times of peace. The courage, commitment, and selflessness helped protect the values and freedoms we collectively enjoy today and continue to inspire us. I also want to honour their respective family members and friends, who were at home both before, during, and after their respective service.
I am of Coast Salish and Nez Perce heritage. It is with a conflicted heart that I write this article, one of love and pride versus sadness and disappointment. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples have a long and proud history and tradition of military service in Canada. As a young girl, I grew up having pride in the Coast Salish Indigenous Elders who fought in the Korean War. I learned more of Nez Perce family in my childhood being at Pow Wows. We learned who went and fought in WWII and the Korean War because we honoured them. Indigenous Veterans have always been included at Pow Wows and other events for their military service. I can recall the pride the Indigenous Veteran had when they danced and the reverence, gratitude, and appreciation afforded to the individual as they were honoured for their military service. The moments of silence to honour the Indigenous Veterans who did not return home or passed into the spirit world afterwards. Across Turtle Island, Veterans’ Day Pow Wow occur. Respectfully, I did not knowingly know any Coast Salish WWII Veterans. Beginning in WWII, Indigenous languages (Code Talkers) were used to encode military communications, as the others did not understand the respective Indigenous languages.
It is with honour, wisdom, and courage that the remainder of this is written, but it is the truth. 2026 was the 50th BC First Nations Elders Gathering. In one of the early years, Veterans Affairs Canada attended the Tsartlip First Nation Elders Gathering to present service medals to Korean Indigenous Veterans! If the Indigenous Veteran had died, a family member received on their behalf who fought in WWI, WWII, or the Korean War. I remembered feeling shocked and disappointed!! In quiet curiosity, I remember asking why the Indigenous Veterans were not given them upon their return! It was a quiet response and a raised eyebrow, which was an unspoken, “Discrimination!”
Indigenous soldiers fought beside their fellow soldiers and upon their return to Canada, they were denied Veterans’ land grants, financial support, no recognition for their service, and loss of their Indian Status if they were gone for more than two years. First Nations Peoples who lost their Indian Status endured another level of adversity, as they were no longer permitted to reside on the reserve because they had been enfranchised. Being a visible Indian, one faced biases, racism, and discrimination when securing housing. I do not know if all Indigenous Veterans have received their respective service medals from their active service, I know of one family whose husband/father/grandfather/uncle has not received his. He has since passed into the spirit world.
Our parents knew who the Vancouver Island Coast Salish Korean Indigenous Veterans were and that they were not being included in the mainstream activities. About 40 years ago, my dad, uncles, brothers, and some cousins began to go to the traditional lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples at Vancouver Island’s Goldstream Provincial Park to honour Indigenous Veterans. The Indigenous Veterans were honoured with both Coast Salish and Nez Perce honour songs. As a specific song was being sung to honour the Veterans who had passed into the spirit world, my now adult nephews would place four fern wreaths into the stream in their memory. Through the decades, the known Coast Salish Korean Veterans have all passed into the spirit world, and the family continues to go to Goldstream to honour Indigenous Veterans. Over the past decade, the CFB Esquimalt DAIG active members and Veterans have joined the Indigenous Goldstream honouring.
The first Indigenous Veterans Day in Canada was in 1993, in Winnipeg, MB to honour Indigenous Veterans who were often overlooked in mainstream remembrance activities. In 1994, the memorial was inaugurated in Winnipeg in 1994 and has since spread nationwide.
Further information about Indigenous Veterans can be found at Indigenous Veterans | Veterans Affairs Canada. The site fully covers WWI, WWII, the Korean War, medals, unfair treatment, memorials, and post-war service. The site also contains classroom materials and related information.
In solidarity,
Carolyn Sampson, PSAC BC NIPC Female Representative
Co-signed by:
Darien Gomez, PSAC BC Indigenous Peoples Coordinator
Jamey Mills, Regional Executive Vice-President, BC Region