National Aboriginal Veterans Day

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Memorial to Canadian Aboriginal veterans Canadian Aboriginal War Veterans Memorial in Ottawa.jpg
Memorial to Canadian Aboriginal veterans

National Indigenous Veterans Day (also known as National Aboriginal Veterans Day) is a memorial day observed in Canada in recognition of aboriginal contributions to military service, particularly in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. It occurs annually on 8 November. The day was first commemorated in 1994. The special memorial was created because before 1994 Indigenous veterans were not recognized in Remembrance Day activities. Indigenous veterans had to overcome many obstacles to serve Canada in these wars, including adjusting to new cultures, sometimes learning to speak new languages (usually English) and travelling long distances to enlist. [1]

The memorial was inaugurated in Winnipeg in 1994, and has since spread nationwide. [2]

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References

  1. "National Indigenous Veterans Day honours military sacrifices of Indigenous people in Canada". The Windspeaker Radio Network. 6 November 2021.
  2. Berthiaume, Lee (8 November 2016). "National Aboriginal Veterans Day continues to grow in size and scope". Global News.