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The entire Native effort in the war almost never happened. A government policy
was adopted restricting Native enlistment. Government and military officials
were concerned that the European enemy considered Natives to be “savages” and
there was extreme concern that the Germans would treat captured Natives harshly
as sub-human. But the policy was not enforced and in 1915, in the face of a growing
demand for able-bodied troops, it was quietly cancelled.
It would be misleading to say all band councils welcomed the war effort. Many
refused to support the Allies unless England recognized them as independent nations.
This did not happen. As well, Natives were not included in the compulsory conscription
orders of 1917. Native leaders effectively argued that previous agreements and
treaties exempted them from mandatory service should Britain go to war. Those
agreements were honoured and a 1918 Order-in-Council exempted Indians from conscription. |
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