Indigenous veterans honoured with sunrise ceremony at Calgary’s Field of Crosses

Honouring the contributions of Canada's Indigenous military service personnel at The Field of Crosses.

November 8 marks Indigenous Veterans Day across Canada — a day of remembrance for First Nations, Métis and Inuit members of the Canadian Armed Forces who fought for this country, often at great personal cost.

First celebrated 31 years ago, the day now sees ceremonies nationwide honouring Indigenous soldiers who served many of whom had to surrender their treaty rights to enlist.

In Calgary, the Field of Crosses marked the occasion with a sunrise ceremony that blended military solemnity with traditional practices, including the burning of sweetgrass.

During the ceremony, Eugene Yellowfly accepted the wartime medals of his late uncle, Gordon Yellowfly, who was killed in Italy on December 27, 1943.

“He didn’t come home. No, this today. That’s why these are very emotional to get into the family. And these are the originals. I’m so emotional. I wish my dad was here to see this. He always wanted these,” Yellowfly said.

His uncle’s name is among the thousands commemorated on the white crosses that line Memorial Drive each November.

“My dad was only nine years old when he left and the last thing my uncle Gordon told my dad was, I’ll see you. I’ll be back. I’ll see you. I love you,” he said.

Yellowfly noted that Indigenous soldiers like his uncle faced unique sacrifices.

“He sacrificed a lot, and they lost a lot. It’s sad, but they did it for Canada,” he said.

Indigenous Veterans Day was established in 1994 to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous servicemembers, whose efforts were long overlooked in Canada’s military history.

The Field of Crosses will continue holding daily sunrise and sunset ceremonies until its closing service on Remembrance Day.