First annual Indigenous Veterans Day powwow held in Winnipeg

A new tradition started this weekend to honour Indigenous veterans in Winnipeg.

As the bill to recognize Nov. 8 as Indigenous Veterans Day was passed in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, the first-ever annual Indigenous Veterans Day powwow was held.

On Saturday, the Indigenous Veterans of Manitoba held the event at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place. The grand entry featured the eagle staff, provincial and Canadian flags, and members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Drummers at the event played the honour song and flag song to pay tribute to fallen veterans.

Gunner Ken Saunders’ military career began in 1983 at the 116th Independent Field Battery, and he echoed the message.

“To honour the veterans at powwow, it’s a celebration for what they did and it gives them the honour and respect that we want to give our warriors,” Saunders said.

“We’re not just celebrating and remembering the past, we’re always going to remember the future, and we’re going to try to remember the future veterans that are coming.”

With the debut of the annual event, a new flag for Indigenous veterans — sweetgrass around a poppy — was also revealed, retiring the old flag from the Canadian Aboriginal Veterans Association.

Capt. Angela Brass, co-chair of the Indigenous Veterans of Manitoba, described the event as “super important.”

“It’s our opportunity to create, to connect with all of our relatives, to our fallen ancestors, and to Mother Earth,” Brass said.

“Having this powwow is a form of us providing that heart medicine to all of our relatives out there who want to take the time to recognize our Indigenous veterans and our fallen relatives.”