VANCOUVER — John Moses recalls the challenges his father faced after returning from the Korean War. Russell Moses, a survivor of an Indigenous residential school, was denied entry to a bar in Hagersville, Ontario, in 1952 due to his race. "That was not unique," said John Moses, a member of the Delaware and Upper Mohawk bands from Six Nations of the Grand River and a third-generation member of the Canadian Armed Forces. His father served in the navy during the Korean War and later joined the air force. He passed away in 2013. John Moses's grandfather, Ted Moses, was a mechanic in the air force during World War II.

John Moses noted the irony faced by returning veterans. "After having fought abroad for the sovereignty of small nations overseas, they come back to a country within which we still, at that point, did not enjoy the same range of civil and political rights as other Canadians," he said.

Canada observes Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8, which highlights the wartime experiences of Indigenous soldiers. Historian Scott Sheffield explained that for some Indigenous veterans, military service provided a sense of belonging that was often absent in their daily lives. Indigenous Veterans Day began as a grassroots initiative in Winnipeg in 1993 and has since gained national recognition. Sheffield described it as a "logical precursor to Remembrance Day" on November 11.

Many wonder why Indigenous people would choose to fight for a country that marginalized them. Sheffield noted that motivations varied by individual and conflict. Some enlisted for adventure or economic reasons, while others made a political statement. "By enlisting, they were sort of declaring their right to belong, to be part of Canadian society," he said.

Tommy Prince, one of Canada’s most decorated World War II veterans, exemplified this sentiment. He famously fought to prove that an Indigenous person was as capable as any white soldier. Sheffield remarked, "He served his whole career with that kind of chip on his shoulder to prove himself a superb soldier, which he did in spades, but it was partly to make that statement."

Sheffield highlighted a common theme in the Indigenous wartime experience: serving often diminished the prejudice they faced in civilian life. "If you were sharing a foxhole with the guy, you only cared about his character, if you had confidence that he’d have your back," he said. However, many veterans returned home to find that acceptance did not continue. "They expected that acceptance to continue after the war, to be honest, and that was more disillusioning," Sheffield said.

The federal government reports that over 4,000 Indigenous people served in World War I, with one in three able-bodied men volunteering. In World War II, more than 3,000 First Nations individuals served, although Sheffield believes the actual number may be as high as 4,300 due to incomplete records.

The government acknowledges the unfair treatment of Indigenous soldiers, noting that many believed their sacrifices would lead to improved rights and standing in Canada. This did not occur, resulting in lasting physical and social effects for Indigenous veterans and their communities.

In recent years, reconciliation efforts have included initiatives to recognize Indigenous veterans. The Last Post Fund Indigenous Initiative, established in March 2019, aims to ensure that no veteran is denied a dignified funeral and burial. To date, over 265 grave markers have been placed, and 24 Indigenous community researchers are working to identify unmarked veterans' graves. Floyd Powder, a researcher and former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, emphasized the importance of including Indigenous symbols or language on headstones. "It shows the family that Veterans Affairs Canada and the Last Post Fund recognizes their service and honors them by having those considerations of symbol and language on their headstone," he said.

Veterans Affairs Canada stated that Indigenous Veterans Day does not replace Remembrance Day but enhances Veterans’ Week by highlighting the significant history of Indigenous service. Sheffield noted that November 8 serves as a reminder of the mutual respect and camaraderie shared by soldiers, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, long before reconciliation efforts began. "I think those are things maybe we should also take to heart, and that might help us as we’re walking a path of reconciliation and trying to find a way to successfully and respectfully coexist in our country going forward."