Indigenous Veterans Day 2026
Ontario Akwesasne, November 8, 2026
Lest We Forget.
The National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada honours all Indigenous Veterans, active service members, and particularly the many Sixties Scoop Survivors who answered the call to serve Canada in uniform, despite the hardships, displacement, and injustices they endured throughout their lives.
We are especially mindful that Indigenous peoples have a long and proud warrior tradition that extends far beyond Canada's modern military history. Indigenous warriors have defended their families, communities, territories, and treaty responsibilities for generations.
Today we remember those who servedin Canada's armed forces during times of war and peacekeeping, while also recognizing the Indigenous warriors whose courage shaped the history of this land.
Among the many significant moments in history are:
The Battle of Queenston Heights (October 13, 1812), where Mohawk and Haudenosaunee warriors played a vital role in the defence of Upper Canada.
The Battle of Duck Lake (March 26, 1885), where Métis fighters under Gabriel Dumont resisted advancing government forces.
The Battle of Fish Creek / Tourond's Coulee (April 24, 1885), a significant Métis victory during the Northwest Resistance.
The Battle of Cut Knife (May 2, 1885), where Cree and Assiniboine warriors successfully defended their people against a larger military force.
The Battle of Batoche (May 9-12, 1885), the decisive battle of the Northwest Resistance.
The Great War First World War (1914–1918) a global conflict centered in Europe that lasted from July 28, 1914, to November 11, 1918.
Inuk Soldier lance corporal John Shiwak, Newfoundland Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force, born in 1889 in Cul-de-Sac near Rigolet, Labrador (family surname originally Sikoak, meaning"newly formed ice"). Enlisted on July 24, 1915, and deployed to the European front lines in 1916. His exceptional patience, stealth, and marksmanship were honed from a lifetime of traditional Inuit hunting—particularly "swatching" seals (shootingthem in open water as they surfaced for air). He was widely regarded by officers as one of the finest snipers and scouts in the British Army. Killed in action on November 21, 1917, alongside six comrades during the Battle of Cambrai when a German artillery shell struck near Masnières, France. Commemorated on the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, byShiwak Hall at Memorial University of Newfoundland (dedicated in 2014), and via a dedicated memorial plaque inMasnières, France.
The Kanehsatà:ke Resistance (Oka Crisis) (July 11-September 26, 1990), when Mohawk land defenders stood to protect sacred lands and burial grounds.
For generations, medals and honours were often awarded to those who fought against Indigenous peoples. Today, we also remember and honour the Indigenous warriors who stood with courage, conviction, and sacrifice in defence of their nations, communities, and ways of life.
This coming Remembrance Day, we reflect on all who served and sacrificed. We honour the fallen, support those who continue to carry the weight of service, and acknowledge the enduring warrior spirit of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.
We remember. We honour. Westand together.
#RemembranceDay #IndigenousVeterans #SixtiesScoopsurvivors #TruthAndReconciliation #IndigenousWarriors #LestWeForget
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For more information on the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada, please visit our website here: https://www.sixtiesscoophealingfoundation.ca/