Veterans and community members marched down the streets of downtown Vancouver to honour the sacrifice and memories of Indigenous soldiers for National Aboriginal Veterans Day.
Tsleil-Waututh Nation also held a ceremony at Whey-ah-Wichen (Cates Park)
CBC News ·
First Nations veterans are honoured during a ceremony at Victory Square in Vancouver, on National Aboriginal Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Veterans and community members marched down the streets of downtown Vancouver to honour the sacrifice and memories of Indigenous soldiers for National Aboriginal Veterans Day.
Aboriginal Veterans Day was established in 1994 in Manitoba, and has since been recognized annually across the country as National Aboriginal Veterans Day, on Nov. 8.
The Vancouver march on Wednesday ended with a commemorative event at Victory Square Park, beside the cenotaph honouring First World War veterans.
Meanwhile in North Vancouver, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation held a ceremony at Whey-ah-Wichen (Cates Park), one of the Nation’s ancestral village sites, honouring their veterans.
CBC’s Ben Nelms attended the events to capture moments throughout the day.
Viviane Sandy holds a photo of her uncle George Gilbert, who served with the Canadian infantry in the Second World War, during the National Aboriginal Veterans Day ceremony at Victory Square in Vancouver. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
People surround the cenotaph at Victory Square in Vancouver, B.C., on National Aboriginal Veterans Day. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
People are seen marching towards Victory Square in Vancouver, B.C. Aboriginal Veterans Day was established in 1994 in Manitoba, and has since been recognized annually across the country as National Aboriginal Veterans Day. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
RCMP Cpl. Anthony Cameron from Waywayseecappo Treaty 4 is pictured during a ceremony at Victory Square during National Aboriginal Veterans Day. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
People are pictured during the march in downtown Vancouver, which ended with a commemorative event at Victory Square beside the cenotaph honouring First World War veterans. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
A cadet hangs a banner during the event’s opening ceremony. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
A bystander salutes veterans during the ceremony. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Veterans Michael Wilson, Dennis Owens and Celina Dorame of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation are honoured during a ceremony at Cates/Whey-ah-Wichen Park in North Vancouver on Nov. 8, 2023. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Tsleil-Waututh drummers performed a prayer song during a National Aboriginal Veterans Day ceremony at Cates/Whey-ah-Wichen Park in North Vancouver. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Tsleil-Waututh Nation community veterans were honoured during Wednesday’s event. Whey-ah-Wichen is one of the Nation’s ancestral village sites. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
