Honouring Indigenous Veterans

It is a powerful message from someone who knows first-hand the sacrifices Indigenous veterans have made.  

Elder Wanbdi Wakita comes from a long line of military service, his uncles, father and brother served in the Second World War as well as the Korean War.  Wakita, a residential school survivor, also spent time in Germany as a peace keeper with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. 

He believes in the importance of not only marking Indigenous Veterans Day each year on November 8th, but also telling his story to younger generations every chance he gets.

“It’s all of our jobs to keep the peace,” shares Elder Wakita. 

It has been estimated that as many as 12,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit people served in the great conflicts of the 20th century. Elder Wakita has made a point to connect and share his cultural knowledge with his community. 

On behalf of our board of trustees, we would like to thank Elders Wanbdi Wakita and Pahan Pte San Win for producing this powerful video message.