Article appeared in the Nov 17 issue of the Interlake Spectator…
Many people still do not know that Aboriginal Veterans Day takes place each year on Nov. 8, three days before Remembrance Day. The tradition was started 19 years ago, after a small group of people from British Columbia and Manitoba took the initiative to “make things right” for Aboriginal Veterans across Canada.
Over 7,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis people served their country during wars and in times of peace. Five hundred of them lost their lives doing so. For years, many of them felt forgotten by their country.
Aboriginal Veterans Day was hosted by the Riverton & District Friendship Centre at the Arborg Legion on Nov. 8. An intimate afternoon ceremony honoured nine veterans, seven of whom are Aboriginal. This is the third year the day has been marked in the Interlake, and first time it has been held in Arborg.
Randi Gage, founding Vice-President of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association was a special guest speaker for the event. She is herself a Veteran who served in the Vietnam War, and is one of the founders of Aboriginal Veterans Day, and was instrumental in getting the day officially recognized by the City of Winnipeg.
Gage was among the people who were the very first to lay of a wreath in honour of Aboriginal Veterans at the National War Memorial on Parliament Hill in November of 1992. It was a historic occasion. The group in attendance was comprised of local executive members of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association from each of the provinces and territories.
“I can’t put the emotion into words…we had never been allowed to go to the National War Memorial to lay a wreath before. It has always been mainstream,” said Gage.
The large wreath, with red roses affixed to ribbons marking each province and territory, was set down and left at the memorial. Later, when Gage returned, she was overwhelmed by what she found.
“People added more poppies. Eventually the whole wreath was red. I’ll never forget it,” said Gage as she shared a photo album of the historic day after the Arborg ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by Arborg Mayor, Randy Sigurdson, who gave a brief address. The ceremony had elements in common with mainstream Remembrance Day ceremonies, such as the Honour Guard, readings of Flanders Fields, and the Lord’s Prayer, the singing of O Canada and God Save the Queen, the laying of wreaths, and other traditional components. There was the addition of Aboriginal elements–Aboriginal drumming by Red Sons, and a rendition of Amazing Grace played on fiddle by Dylan Gaudry of St. Laurent.
At this time it is not known how many Aboriginal Veterans live in the Interlake region, but the Riverton & District Friendship Centre is working on gathering the names of veterans past and present, and want public input to get an accurate account.
They are also working toward building a cenotaph in Riverton, hoping to get permission to place it in Centennial Park. They ask that each person collect a rock or stone, which will be used in the building of the memorial.
“We’re so proud of our Veterans here,” said Tanis Grimolfson, Executive Director of the friendship centre.
The veterans honoured during the Arborg ceremony are as follows:
Georgina Romaniuk, age 88 of Riverton, Second World War Veteran; Peter Maksymchuk, age 90 of Arborg, Second World War Veteran; Ernie Fontiane, age 79 of Riverton, Korean War Veteran; Gerald Bennet, age 78 of Gimli, Korean War Veteran; Frank Orvis, age 82 of Selkirk, Korean War Veteran; John Lavallee, age 78 of Hudson, Korean War Veteran, Randi Gage, of Winnipeg, Vietnam ERA Veteran; Dave Ostryzniuk, age 60 of Fisher Branch, Served in the Air Force; Arnold Sinclair, age 76 of Peguis, Served during Peacetime.
