The Aboriginal delegation, including members of the Métis,
First Nations, Inuit Spiritual Elders—veterans and youth alike—returned
from visiting Canadian War Memorials in Europe and attended ceremonies
in Ottawa on November 3rd, before returning to their homes located
across Canada.
They left Canada on October 26th, and while in
Europe, they visited commemorative ceremonies in the Ypres area of
Belgium and Normandy, and conducted a Calling Home Ceremony in which
they invited the spirits of the fallen warriors to return home to
Canada to rest with their ancestors.
They visited the Juno Beach Centre, and there, have left an Inuksuk, its windows facing Canada and the nearby war cemetery. This will serve as a permanent marker of the journey.
"It is so very appropriate that our last
commemorative ceremony is being held at Vimy and that we make this
visit during Canada's Year of the Veteran. On the Vimy Memorial can be
found the names of at least 35 Aboriginal Veterans whose stories will
never be known, except that they will never come home," said the
Honourable Albina Guarnieri, Minister of Veterans Affairs.
Additional information, including photos and blogs can be found at Veterans Affairs Canada website at <http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=feature/abspirit>.
