GeoMinute: Honouring Indigenous veterans in the Canadian Armed Forces

Each year on November 8, Canada honours the bravery and sacrifices of the nearly 12,000 Indigenous veterans who have contributed to various war efforts. Past and present Indigenous service members have faced and continue to fight discrimination within the forces, and as it celebrates its centennial in 2024, the Royal Canadian Air Force is on a mission of reconciliation.

Learn more about the past, present and future of the RCAF: https://wingsofhonour.ca/

Photo/video credits:
• National Aboriginal Veterans Monument, Ottawa, ON. Alamy Stock Photo/Ilene MacDonald.
Lieutenant James David Moses. Courtesy of John Moses.
• Lance Corporal John Shiwak. Canadian Virtual War Memorial/Courtesy of the Shiwak Family.
Nurse Edith Monture. Courtesy of John Moses.
• George McLean during the First World War. The Canadian Encyclopedia/Courtesy of Mel Rothenburger.
• Private Clifford Styres. Six Nations Public Library/Original image donated by Tom Hill (SNPL004233v00d).
• Sergeant Thomas (Tommy) Prince, Veterans Affairs Canada.
• Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow. Wikimedia Commons.
• Group of Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq soldiers. Abegweit and Lennox Island First Nations community archives, on loan to L’nuey. Wela'lin to Sean Doke from L’nuey and Samantha Kelly from the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation.
• Air Gunner Willard Bolduc. Canadian Armed Forces’ Facebook Page.
• Map of Europe. Envato Elements.
• War painting imagined bombing raid on Cologne Koln, Germany by W. Krogman. Alamy Stock Photo/RKive.
• Distinguished Flying Cross. Medal Set, Lieutenant Peter Haworth, D.F.C. Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals. Canadian War Museum (CWM 19890124-001).
• Lieutenant Fred Loft. Six Nations Public Library/Six Nations Legacy Consortium Collection (SNPL000247v00i).
• Lieutenant-General Jocelyn Paul. Department of National Defence Archives.
• Petty Officer 1st Class Katerina Stewart carries the Eagle Staff on June 4, 2019, during the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the Canadians who fought and died during World War II, during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy at Chambois, France. Canadian Forces Combat Camera/MCpl PJ Letourneau (IS06-2019-0020-002)
National Aboriginal Veterans Monument, Ottawa, ON. Alamy Stock Photo/Ilene MacDonald.
• The snowbirds fly above the crowd in the Inukshuk Formation at the Ceremony of Remembrance held at the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Ottawa, Ontario on June 21, 2018. Department of National Defence Archives/Ordinary Seaman Alexandra Proulx (SU05-2018-0839-021).

As the Royal Canadian Air Force celebrates its centennial in 2024, Canadian Geographic looks back at significant moments and milestones from the past century.

This project is made possible in part by the Government of Canada.