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First Nations
Contribution
Despite their overall small numbers and their ambivalent relationship
with the Canadian government, Canada’s First Nations people contributed
significantly to the Great War. Exact numbers are not available for many reasons.
The Department of Indian Affairs at the time did not track “Indian Enlistments” as
closely as they should have and many men who enlisted were overlooked. As well,
because the government department focussed on “status Indians,” many
Natives who enlisted from the Metis people, Inuit and other groups, were not
counted. As well, the government did not track Natives from Newfoundland and
Labrador because they were not part of Canada at the time. Nonetheless, it is
safe to say that about 4,000 Native Canadians participated in the First World
War, many serving with distinction. In all, more than 50 decorations were awarded
to Native fighters for their contributions to the war.
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Elders
and Indian soldiers
Members of the File Hills Indian Colony joined the 68th Battalion (Regina).
Their parents, in traditional garb, posed for this photograph before the soldiers
left for England. |
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