PRSD Celebrates National Aboriginal Veterans Day alongside Remembrance Day
Today marks National Aboriginal Veterans Day and across the Peace River School Division, many of our schools are celebrating the efforts of our Indigenous veterans through Canada's history.
Aboriginal Veterans Day was established in Manitoba in 1994 and has since spread across the country. The day was later renamed National Aboriginal Veterans Day, and is recognized annually on November 8. This day is a day to recognize and acknowledge the many contributions and sacrifices of Aboriginals not only to Canada's war efforts but to its peacekeeping reputation. First Nation, Métis and Inuit Veterans were not acknowledged in Remembrance Day activities for decades, until 1995 when the first wreaths to honour Aboriginal Veterans were laid at the National War Monument in Ottawa.
Included below are just a few of the ways our schools honoured National Aboriginal Veterans Day.
- Peace River High School students joined the Peace River Aboriginal Interagency Committee at the Treaty 8 Monument in Peace River to take part in the ceremony that took place at 9 a.m. this morning. Students observed the laying of the wreath and assisted with raising the flags.
- At Grimshaw Public School staff took great care to weave together a celebration of both National Aboriginal Veterans Day and Remembrance Day during a whole-school assembly at 10:30 a.m. Drummers from Young, Wild and Cree took part in the ceremony, an Indigenous Elder led the flag bearers while carrying an Eagle Staff, and both the English and Cree national anthems were played during the assembly.
- Hines Creek Composite School and E.E. Oliver Elementary School took time to honour the contributions of Aboriginal Veteran Leo Goulet
- Nampa Public School taught their students about the Cree Code Talkers during their Remembrance Day activities.
While this list highlights some of what our schools are doing, the PRSD is proud of all of our schools for making the important effort to celebrate all of our Canadian veterans today, especially our Indigenous veterans.