Aboriginal Participation in WWII 1939 - 1945

WWII begins WWII began on September 1, 1939 and would end on May 8, 1945 with the surrender of Nazi Germany. Canada would play a major role in this war.

Racism + prejudice In this context, the milieu of racism in Canada, Aboriginals regardless once again stepped up to volunteer to fight in a war overseas and to defend a country that constantly attempted to be rid of them. They would not be conscripted but would risk their lives voluntarily.

Photo: Recruits from the Saskatchewan's File Hills community pose with elders, family members, and representative from the Department of Indian Affairs before departing for Great Britain. National Archives of Canada/PA-66815. National Archives of Canada/PA 6681

Aboriginal Soldiers Poem How proudly the flag waved overhead, the bands played and the troops marched away from the reserves, the isolated villages, the city streets. We were Canadian Native soldiers. . . warriors in a proud tradition stretching back over the thousands of years into the dim past.

Aboriginal Soldiers Poem We travelled by ship, by plane. . . and mostly on foot. In a dozen places - France, Germany, Italy. . . Japan - we raised our flags, and were buried in those foreign soils.

Aboriginal Soldier’s Service Aboriginal peoples from every region of Canada served in the Armed Forces during WWII, fighting in every major battle and campaign. Their courage, sacrifices and accomplishments are a source of pride to their families, communities and all Canadians.

Numbers Served More than 3,000 Status (Treaty) Indians volunteered across Canada and probably a similar number of Metis and Non-Status people, including 72 Aboriginal women.

Numbers Served As George Manuel points out, “because we lacked European education most of our men served in the infantry. We were among the first to see action and the last to come home.”

Numbers Served Among this small number of identified Aboriginal members of the forces, at least 17 decorations for bravery in action were earned.

LOST STATUS AS VOLUNTEERS Many men and women who enlisted lost their Indian Status by volunteering to fight for Canada. Some were told by superior officers that they must become enfranchised before they could enlist.

LOST STATUS AS VOLUNTEERS Despite this blatant discrimination and deterrence, many Aboriginals joined and, as in WWI, stood out.

John McLeod

John McLeod John McLeod, an Ojibwa, served overseas in the First World War and was a member of the Veterans Guard during the Second World War. Six of his sons and one of his daughters enlisted. Two sons gave their lives, and another two were wounded. In 1972, John's wife, Mary, became the first Aboriginal woman to be named Canada's Memorial Cross Mother, placing a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Remembrance Day on behalf of all Canadian mothers who had lost children to the war.

Charles Bryce

Charles Bryce Charles Byce, the son of a Cree woman, joined the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor). He won the Military Medal in the Netherlands and the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the Rhineland Campaign. His citation for the latter was impressive: "His gallant stand, without adequate weapons and with a bare handful of men against hopeless odds will remain, for all time, an outstanding example to all ranks of the Regiment."

Chief Joe Dreaver

Chief Joe Dreaver Chief Joe Dreaver, of Mistawasis Cree Band in Saskatchewan, served in both world wars. During the First World War, he was a sapper and earned the Military Medal, an award for bravery in the field, in Belgium. When war erupted again, he immediately re-enlisted, leaving his farm and bringing 17 men with him, including three of his sons. At 48, he was too old for overseas service and remained in Canada with the Veterans Guard, watching over prisoners of war in Alberta.

David Greyeyes

David Greyeyes David Greyeyes, a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Band in Saskatchewan, served in seven European countries in many difficult military roles, including commanding a mortar platoon in Italy. During the Italian Campaign, he earned the Greek Military Cross (third class) for valour in supporting the Greek Mountain Brigade. In 1977 he was awarded the Order of Canada.

Oliver Milton

Oliver Milton Brigadier Oliver Milton Martin, a Mohawk from the Six Nations Grand River Reserve, reached the highest military rank ever held by an aboriginal person. During the First World War, he served in both the army and the air force. During the Second World War, he oversaw the training of hundreds of recruits in Canada. For his 20 years of excellent service, he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer's Decoration.

Tommy Prince

Tommy Prince Thomas George Prince, an Ojibwa from Manitoba, volunteered to be a paratrooper. His unit, the 1stCanadian Special Service Battalion, joined with an elite American troop from a spearhead of 1,600 men that became known to the Germans as the Devil's Brigade. He earned the Military Medal during a battle in Italy, and the Silver Star, an American award for gallantry, for his reconnaissance work in France. These awards were presented to him by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.

Tommy Prince: Canadian Hero of War The most decorated Canadian First Nations soldier of all time. 4:17 minutes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyvrBOGorNA

LOST equality Although Aboriginals who fought overseas experienced equal treatment alongside other soldiers during the war, once they returned home that equality faded away.

LOST equality When they returned home Status Indians were encouraged to drop their status so they could take advantage of the benefits given to veterans.

BENEFITS TO VETERANS The primary benefit to war veterans was provided through the Veterans’ Land Act (VLA) which gave most veterans of WWII a low-interest loan of $6,000 to purchase agricultural property or, for those on the coast, to invest in the fishing industry. A portion of this, $2,320, was in the form of a forgivable loan.

BENEFITS TO VETERANS However, the Act was specially revised in 1942 to deal with Status Indian veterans that were returning to their home reserves. Since reserve land could not be sold, they were not eligible for the loan!

DENIED BENEFITS The most they could receive was a grant for $2,320 and control over who could receive the benefit was in the hands of the Indian Agent. Those who did get approved did not actually receive the money; it was held in trust for them and required extra paperwork, resulting in delays while payments were processed.

DENIED BENEFITS Even if individual veterans did not own any fishing equipment purchased under the VLA, Indian Affairs retained ownership for 10 years. Most Aboriginal veterans faced long waits for the applications to be accepted, and not all of them were.

DENIED BENEFITS Some people gave up waiting and tried to find other employment, a difficult task in itself. Some, seeing no alternative, left Canada to take jobs in the USA.

DENIED BENEFITS Others, seeing the obstacles and delays encountered, chose out of frustration to become enfranchised; they were convinced by Indian Agents that this would be the easiest way out. What rights they were giving up by signing forms was unclear to them.

DENIED BENEFITS When the VLA was denounced as being discriminatory to Aboriginal veterans, Indian Affairs replied that the vets were free to apply for the full loan for lands not on reserves. Few took advantage of this because they were afraid that they would lose their Status and become enfranchised.

Metis and non-Status Veterans Metis and Non-Status veterans also had difficulty receiving veterans’ benefits. Often, they were not aware of what benefits were open to them, or the regulations were improperly applied to them.

Metis and non-Status Veterans For example, some were only given the $2,320 grant that veterans with Status received, when they should have been eligible for the full amount of the loan.

New outlook on the world For many Aboriginal people in the armed forces, the wars, particularly WWII, gave them a new outlook on the world and the possibilities of their role in it. Like most men and women who fought in the war, they experienced the intense camaraderie that grows between people thrown into extraordinary situations.

New outlook on the world More than that, they felt, perhaps for the first time since the fur trade era, what it was like to be considered equal by non-Aboriginals. They also saw other countries and cultures, broadening their understanding of life in different societies.

New outlook on the world When they returned home many became leaders in their communities and in the larger political arenas.

Recent respect Only recently have Aboriginal veterans been given the respect they are due. Before 1994, Aboriginal veterans were unable to participate in the Remembrance Day ceremonies as a group; they were expected to participate as individuals only.

Recent respect Remembrance Day 1994 was the first time that they were permitted to lay a wreath symbolizing the Aboriginal veterans at the War Memorial in Ottawa.

Recent respect In Vancouver, before 1995, Aboriginal veterans could not march as an Aboriginal group, nor could they lay their own wreath on the cenotaph in Victory Square. The reason was given was the monument was too crowded for more wreaths; they now have a place.

Honouring Aboriginal Veterans Aboriginal veterans' contributions, achievements and sacrifices, as well as those of all veterans and currently serving members, are now formally recognized on Remembrance Day, November 11, each year.

The Legacy The brave native men and women who left their homes during the Second World War to contribute to the struggle for peace were true heroes. The extra challenges that they had to face and overcome makes their achievements all the more notable

Post-war developments In federal government elections, First Nations were first allowed to vote federally in 1960.

Post-war developments In the years following WWII and the creation of the United Nations, federal and provincial governments slowly changed their relationship with Aboriginal peoples, thanks in large part to the work of the Native Brotherhood.

Post-war developments The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace.

Post-war developments The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue. It has been critical of Canadian government's treatment of Aboriginal people.

Post-war developments In 1949, Frank Calder was elected to the BC provincial legislature as the MLA for Atlin from 1949 to 1965 and again from 1960 to 1979.

Post-war developments During that time Calder became the first Aboriginal cabinet minister in Canada. He was also the founding president of the Nisga’a Tribal Council.

Post-war developments During this time (1951) major changes were made to the Indian Act = anti-potlatch law dropped and the ban on any land claims were dropped and Native women finally obtained the rights to vote in band council elections. Yet, there was still much work to be done.

Activity/Assignment Complete in pairs or individually the Venn Diagram, Comparing Experiences of Euro-Canadian and Aboriginal Veterans (BLM 8-2) to compare and contrast the differences and similarities of Aboriginal veterans with non-Aboriginal veterans.