11/08/2025
Today PHSA recognizes . We honour with gratitude the many First Nations, Inuit and Métis who are serving and have served and those that have lost their lives in service.
Indigenous Peoples have a long and distinguished history in the Canadian armed forces and have served courageously both in Canada and overseas. Many overcame enormous challenges to enlist, including leaving their ancestral homes, adapting to cultural differences and facing oppression and racism. Some veterans, as a condition of service, had their First Nation’s status revoked.
After their service, many Indigenous veterans did not receive the same resources and support as their non-Indigenous comrades. Land misappropriated from Indigenous Peoples was offered to non-Indigenous veterans, and many Indigenous service members were not able to access full veterans’ benefits and supports.
On this day, we acknowledge Indigenous veterans, who served courageously often without receiving the recognition and support they deserved. We remember and uplift those who lost their lives in service along with their families and communities. We also acknowledge the barriers, racism and harms many Indigenous veterans faced before, during and after their service.
