Indigenous peoples have a long history of defending Canada and supporting its war efforts abroad.<\/p>\n
From the War of 1812, when the military strategies of the great Shawnee warrior Chief Tecumseh played a pivotal role in the defeat of the Americans, to their active participation in World Wars I and II, the Korean War and beyond, Indigenous\u00a0soldiers have made significant contributions to Canada. During the First World War, for example, participation by Canada\u2019s Indigenous peoples was proportionally higher than that of any other group in Canada, with one in three Indigenous males enlisting as foot soldiers, scouts, or snipers. In one instance every male of the Nawash Reserve on Georgian Bay (Chippewas) enlisted, as did all but three on the Golden Lake Reserve (Algonquins).<\/p>\n
More than 500 Indigenous soldiers died in World Wars I and II. Altogether, more than 7,000 Status Natives and 5,000 Non-Status Natives, along with a large number of M\u00e9tis and Inuit people, left their homes and families to serve Canada in those two conflicts. Many Indigenous women served as nurses tending the wounded. And those who remained in Canada also made important contributions, donating over $67,000 to war relief through the Red Cross and Salvation Army, and offering up reserve land for use as defense posts, airports and training grounds.<\/p>\n
At the time, Indigenous\u00a0soldiers were highly praised for their courage and recognized for their front-line efforts. Many were decorated with honours and awards. Yet upon their return to Canada following the war, Indigenous veterans were enfranchised, their sacrifices largely forgotten while their rights and status as Indigenous Peoples were taken away.<\/p>\n