Dr. Susan Neylan : : Aboriginal Veterans: Lest We Forget

Why have we forgotten?
- marginalized? invisible visible minority?
- few scholarly accounts?
- private nature of commemoration
- no "one" aboriginal veteran experience
- Click on http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm/history/other/native to visit "Native Soldiers, Foreign Battlefields" by Veterans Affairs Canada
Aboriginal Military and Warrior Traditions
- pre-European methods and objectives of warfare
- post-contact changes: guns, motivation, defensive wars, his majesty's allies
- family traditions: eg. Joseph Brant/Thayendanegea: John Brant, Cameron Brant, Gilbert Clarence Monture
- general introduction to aboriginal military service in world wars: culture shock, discrimination, return to civilian life
World War One (1914-1918)
- 625 000 (pop of 8 million) served overseas, 60 000 dead, 160 000 casualties
- 3500-4000 aboriginal men (1 in 3); 300 dead
- Conscription Issue (mostly exempt):
  - confusion over whether or not Indians exempt until Jan 17 Orders in Council
  - Military Voters Act 1917: all aboriginal soldiers enfranchised without loss of status
  - Wartime Elections Act 1917: aboriginal women could not vote (?)
- Aboriginal officers
- Aboriginal Regiments: the 114th and the 107th Battalions
  - demonstrating loyalty to Crown or segregated unit?
- Selected Bios of WWI Veterans: Henry Norwest, Francis Pegahmagabow, John Shiwak, and Tom Longboat
- separation allowance
Between the Wars
- Soldier Settlements and Veterans' Allowance
  - 850 000 acres of Indian reserves sold to give to non-Native soldiers
  - 160 acres free to non-Native soldiers, as direct conflict with Indian Act
  - 1927 only 227 grants to Indian veterans (187 from ON)
  - 1932-1936 War Veteran's Allowance Act not applicable to Indian veterans, who were now treated as any other reserve inhabitant
- Last Post Fund
World War Two (1939-1945)
- 1 million Canadians in uniform (pop 11 million); over 40 000 dead
- 3090 Indian soldiers (unsure whether figure includes women or non-combatants) out of 126 000 Indians in Canada
- reasons for enlistment: new skills, adventure, freedom from racism, etc.
- Conscription issue (eligible for draft)
  - NRMA zombies 1940, supposedly Indians are exempt but info not communicated
  - lost jobs because did not have registration cards
  - massive protests, and eventually promised registration but no forced service
  - lack of info and many forced to basic training
  - tried in courts: Indians with treaties specfiying no military service are exempt
  - 1944 zombies conscripted for overseas service...possible First Nations among the 2500 sent to Europe
- aboriginal soldiers overseas or in active service
- prejudice in RCAF and RCN
- women in WWII: Marguerite Marie St. Germain and Margaret Pictou
- Tommy Prince (WWII and Korea)
Life After the War: Disillusionment, Activism, and Lost Respect
- unequal treatment for aboriginal war vets
- difficulties adjusting to civilian life
- general shift in attitudes
- Native veteran activism and leadership
- the impact of the "Warrior type": the Sto:lo story of Tonto (stomex and si:yam)