Nov. 11 marked the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.
Remembrance Day ceremonies were held across the country honouring the brave men and women who fought for our freedom.
On Remembrance Day weekend, a conversation on CBC radio took place, in which the host voiced the question: are young people apathetic to the significance of Remembrance Day? Do they wear poppies? Why or why not?
A young woman, in response to this question, suggested the poppy is a symbol of patriotism. She argued that wearing a poppy is to honour a country that is deeply flawed, as Canada’s historical mistreatment of its Indigenous people is rarely addressed, and this mistreatment still exists today.
The military heroism of Canada’s Indigenous people is very rarely observed. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada stated: “… Hundreds were wounded or lost their lives on foreign battlefields. Many Aboriginal people distinguished themselves as talented and capable soldiers and at least 50 were awarded medals for bravery and heroism. After returning from service, many Aboriginal veterans experienced the same unequal treatment they experienced prior to the war. Aboriginal veterans were not awarded the same benefits as their non-Aboriginal counterparts.”
Canada’s mistreatment of its Indigenous people, both historically and contemporarily, is an ugly reality we collectively tiptoe around; broaching the subject with extreme caution, so as not to ruffle any feathers.
As a result, little changes have been made in regard to the treatment of Indigenous people in our country.
Human rights atrocities, including limited access to clean water, continue to plague native populations. VICE News Canada reported: “For decades, First Nations across the country have been plagued by drinking water full of harmful bacteria, chemicals, and heavy metals. While government-after-government has vowed to fix the problem, the issue remains.”
While I respect the choice to abstain from wearing a poppy for the aforementioned reasons, I do not believe showing patriotism by wearing the poppy implies you are not critical of Canada’s flaws. To honour our country is to demand better of it.
With an awareness of my privilege as a young, white woman living on colonized land, the poppy is a symbol of remembrance, and therefore should be used to remember and honour the legacy of Canada’s Indigenous soldiers.
Remembrance Day, and the symbol of the poppy by extension, is particularly significant for my family. My maternal grandparents, who grew up in Nazi-occupied Holland, were liberated by Canadian soldiers in 1945.
I choose to wear a poppy to honour the Canadian soldiers who liberated my family, and to honour the country I was born and raised in. I, too, wear the poppy to honour the Indigenous soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, while remaining oppressed on the land they call home.
Our country’s treatment of Indigenous people throughout our history is abhorrent, and remains today through a legacy of violence, criminalization and systemic racism. May we remember the legacy of Canadian soldiers while honouring the legacy of our native people.
Jennifer Hamilton is a local student and writer.
