First Nations in the Military

Wow the weather certainly changed. I've actually propped back the hides to let some more fresh air into the Den. The fire still blazes. Enjoy a snack, I made some egg salad.



So I said a while ago I would explains some of the underhandedness employed by the Canadian Government in recruiting the First Nations into World War II. You see part of that Royal Proclamation I've mentioned before said that no First Nation would be required to serve in any Military action undertaken by the Crown. The irony of that statement is that no military action in the entire history of North America and Canada has occurred without involvement from the First Nations. Amazing hmmm?

So anyways, in WWII the Canadian government needed to up some recruitment so they actively worked the reserves promising land if the young men were to enlist. Quite a few took part in this, thinking this would finally see the resolution of the land issues that many reserves were having.

So off to Europe many Indians went. Including some of my relatives. And there are many of them who came back with accolades and such. I did a quick google search on First Nations in Canadian Armed Forces. WOW! Go give it a look.

And back they come and they go to the Canadian Government and say 'Ok we served, make with the land you promised.' And the government says 'Oh certainly. Here is the land you can have.'

And everyone lived happily ever after.

NOT.

Ok so that was TOTALLY bad eighties etiquette. Here's what really happened.

The Canadian government offered to give these First Nations, who volunteered under the pretense that they would receive land for their reserve, THEIR OWN LAND!! They could pick a plot of land from their reserve and it would be in their own name now rather than the reserve. Oh and since these men now owned land they were considered to be 're-enfranchised' and no longer a Status Indian, they were now white.

No one took the government up on this offer.

How is that for low and underhanded?