The City of Toronto is honoring the military sacrifices, past and present, of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples to mark National Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8.
Mayor Olivia Chow led Wednesday’s proceedings at city hall, which began with a sacred fire ceremony on the roof and ended with the presentation of two plaques in the rotunda to honour Toronto’s Indigenous veterans and current service members.
The first plaque pays tribute to the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG), which represents more than 3,000 Indigenous members of Canada’s military. The second recognizes the contributions of all Indigenous Peoples who defended present-day Toronto in the Battle of York in 1813.
Chief Stacey Laforme of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation was present at Wednesday’s ceremony and said Toronto’s recognition of Indigenous military contributions is bittersweet.
“I’m torn. I mean, I love the remembrance of this history, paying tribute to our ancestors and all those who were involved today. But you look around, under all this strife and conflict. It’s a mixture of pride, sadness and, I don’t know, hope for the future,” he said.
Indigenous Veterans Day was also recognized during a council meeting on Wednesday. City staff said The Francis Pegahmagabow Eagle Staff, representing Indigenous members of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, was present at the commemoration.
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