25/11/2024 

Treaty 1 and Dakota Territory, Homeland of the Red River Metis, Winnipeg MB – MLA for Waverley, David Pankratz, who also serves as the Special Envoy for Military Affairs, has introduced Bill 210, The Indigenous Veterans Day Act. 

“Honouring and remembering Manitoba veterans is an integral part of celebrating the freedoms that we have in our country,” said MLA Pankratz. “Indigenous peoples have served in the Canadian military for over a century but were not always given the respect and recognition they deserved for their contributions and sacrifice. This bill is a step towards righting those historical wrongs and honouring the stories of Indigenous veterans.” 

Acknowledging November 8th as Indigenous Veterans Day has been a long tradition in Manitoba, being the first province to recognize the day. 

“The struggles of Indigenous Veterans have been a silent battle for decades,” said Randi Gage, former vice-president of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association and founder of the November 8th Day of Recognition and Remembrance for Aboriginal Veterans in Canada. “This bill builds on top of the years of grassroots advocacy that allows Manitoba’s Indigenous veterans to tell their stories and encourages us to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.” 

The bill has just completed its first reading.