Flags at the Catholic Education Centre and all St. Clair Catholic schools are lowered to half-mast on Monday, November 8, 2021, in recognition of Indigenous Veterans Day.
It is estimated that as many as 12,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit people served in the great conflicts of the 20th century with more than 500 making the ultimate sacrifice.
“We honour the brave men and women from Indigenous communities, who have served their country in Canada’s wars and conflicts down through the century,” says Scott Johnson, Director of Education. “These volunteers overcame language and cultural barriers to serve the cause of peace and freedom. We are grateful for their service and their sacrifices.”
Three virtual Indigenous Veterans Day services are planned throughout the day in St. Clair Catholic schools.
This long tradition of military service is commemorated with the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Ottawa. The symbolic memorial is the site of Remembrance ceremonies each year, including on Indigenous Veterans Day, observed on November 8.