On Nov. 8, the North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Society, the District of Clearwater, Raft River Elementary and the Vavenby and District Legion branch #259 (Clearwater) honoured Indigenous Veterans by lowering flags to half-mast around the community.
National Indigenous Veterans Day is a memorial day observed in Canada in recognition of Indigenous contributions to military service, particularly in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. It occurs annually on Nov. 8 and flags are lowered to half-mast, to be raised again the Tuesday following Remembrance Day.
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples have been part of Canada’s military for over 200 years. Thousands of First Nation soldiers served courageously in both World Wars, the Korean War, and numerous peacekeeping missions abroad.
Raft River Elementary School students from Mrs. Green’s class wrote the land acknowledgement to the Secwépemc people and presented it on on Nov. 10 at the school Remembrance ceremony. Simpcw is a division of the Secwépemc, or Shuswap, Nation.
“Lest We Forget”: we are grateful for the sacrifice of all of our Indigenous veterans and first responders in Canada, and honour them on Nov. 8 each year.
