Overview
- Ceremonies were held across the country on Nov. 8, with federal and provincial leaders issuing tributes and events in cities such as Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver featuring veterans, Elders and dignitaries including Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.
- Manitoba enacted Bill 210 to designate Nov. 8 as Indigenous Veterans Day and funded nearly $20,000 for the province’s first official powwow and feast at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place in Winnipeg.
- The Department of National Defence cites more than 3,000 First Nations soldiers in the Second World War and an estimated 12,000 Indigenous people who served in major 20th‑century conflicts.
- Veterans Affairs Canada acknowledges historic unequal treatment of Indigenous veterans after service, and community leaders welcomed a recent Canadian Armed Forces apology for systemic racism.
- Recognition and supports continue to grow through initiatives such as the Last Post Fund’s Indigenous Veterans Initiative, which has placed more than 265 grave markers since 2019, and the Southern Chiefs’ Organization program that provides culturally grounded services and partners with 17 Wing Winnipeg.