NATIONAL ABORIGINAL VETERANS MONUMENT

My Two Beads Worth is grateful to both Charles Stevens, David Clarey, the Aborginal Veterans of Canada who served with pride, honor, and courage, for permitting this publication the honor of presenting this information to you.

The Artist who designed the monument, Lloyd Pinay is a First Nations Aboriginal from out west in Saskatchewan. Mr. Stevens said this Monument is the only one of its kind, as it was designed and built by an Aboriginal, Mr. Pinay. Other tributes to the efforts of Aboriginal Veterans have been a combined effort of Native and Non-Natives. This is what makes this Monument so special, created and built by Aboriginal People. This monument stands as a tribute to all Aboriginal Veterans of all Countries and all Veterans world wide.

My Friends

My heart is full, and I am still walking with a deep sense of humility in the afterglow of emotion, as a result of the events that took place yesterday in our Nations Capital. With pride and humility I offer my observations of this historic day.

The National Aboriginal Veterans War Monument is now a reality. It was unveiled on June 21, 2001 in Confederation Park, Ottawa, by the Governor General of Canada, with full pomp and ceremony.

The ceremony was held under a bright sunny sky, in very warm temperatures, and was witnessed by representatives of First Nations communities from every Province and Territory in Canada. The Honour Guard that flanked the monument during the ceremony comprised approximately 100 Veterans of the conflicts that Canadian servicemen have participated in from WWII to the current time and included First nations, Inuit, Metis and non-Aboriginal personnel. The four corners of the monument were guarded by Royal Canadian Mounted Police personnel dressed in their traditional red tunics. An Elder Noel Knockwood, from Nova Scotia, consecrated and dedicated the monument and this was followed by the playing of a Veterans Song and Flag Song by a young First Nations Traditional Drum from Ottawa, called "Big Stone." The Big Stone Traditional Drum Group is a group of honorable young men, who are holding on to the Traditional Values of the People.

Elder Knockwood, is the first Aboriginal Sergeant at Arms of the Nova Scotia Legislature and a respected Spiritual Leader of the Mi'kmaq People and Captain of the Grand Council. He travels nationally to share his message with any and all people.

During her speech, the Governor General recognized and honoured the sacrifice and service of the First Nations men and women who served with distinction in the Canadian Armed Forces, and she spoke of the significance of the role our First Nations service men played in several historical engagements in foreign lands, ie, the Boer War, the Sudan, etc..

This ceremony represents the realization of a dream that began some five years ago among members of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association. The members of this Association worked long and hard in an effort to bring this dream to reality.

A significant amount of the money required to erect this magnificent monument was obtained from the contributions of ordinary people and was collected during blanket dances at gatherings held all across this country. In this way, the monument is indeed the people’s recognition of the service our Veterans have rendered in preserving the peace and security of every person of this nation. Yet it goes far beyond this. The very name indicates that it honours the service and sacrifice of every aboriginal service person of every nation of the world.

After the unveiling, I had the opportunity of speaking with many veterans, and people who were spectators of this historical event, and I noticed that there were many damp eyes, even though there were attempts to suppress this show of emotion which were not always successful. I also had the opportunity, and honour, of greeting and speaking with "Smoky" Smith, VC. Smoky is one of the few surviving Victoria Cross recipients from WWII. For those not familiar with Canadian Military Decorations, the Victoria Cross is the highest award given to a military person for extreme acts of Valour in the face of the enemy and is usually awarded posthumously. Its counterpart is the Congressional Medal Of Honour for Valour in the USA.

I am indeed honoured and humbled that Creator provided me with the privilege of participating as a member of the Honour Guard at this historical event.

Walk in harmony and brotherhood and may Creator grant you peace.
GreyWolf

MY TWO BEADS WORTH is grateful to GreyWolf for sharing his personal observations at this very important honoring of Canadian Aboriginal Veterans and Veterans throughout the World.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MONUMENT ON THE DAY OF THE CEREMONY AND UNVEILING

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Revised August 9, 2002

Last updated on November 10, 2007