Participants will invite relatives home

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Canada's Aboriginal Veterans, along with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada, will embark on an Aboriginal spiritual journey to Belgium and France from Oct. 25 to Nov. 4.

Aboriginal spiritual Elders from across Canada will conduct a Calling Home ceremony to invite the spirits of fallen warriors to return to their homelands and join their ancestors.

Journey participants will include Second World War veterans; Aboriginal traditional spiritual leaders; national Aboriginal leaders; members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people served Canada in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. More than 500 known Aboriginal people are buried in Commonwealth war graves and other cemeteries around the world.

According to Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) the purpose of the journey is so the veterans will have the opportunity to pay their respects to their fallen comrades by giving them a final salute.

The families of fallen warriors will have the chance to lay the spirits of their loved ones to rest with their ancestors. This journey will also educate the youth, public and Europeans on the service and sacrifice by Canada's first peoples.

Veterans and youth will visit the battlefield sites at Hill 62, St. Julien, Vimy, France, Beny-sur-Mer and Juno Beach, while the spiritual Elders will conduct the Calling Home ceremony at a site near Ypres. Due to the sacred nature of the ceremony, it will be conducted in private; however, information about it will be made available.

The ceremonial site will consist of sweatlodges, tipis and an eternal fire, which will be constructed in advance of the arrival of the delegation. An Inukshuk will be constructed and placed on the grounds of the Juno Beach Centre to serve as a permanent reminder of the contribution of Canada's Aboriginal warriors in service to their country.

An Inukshuk is made from stacked stones. It's a human-like statue with its arms pointing straight out to the sides.

The journey delegation will consist of approximately 200 people. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada invited First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth between the ages of 16 and 18 interested in taking part in the event to submit a written essay of 300 to 500 words.

They had to answer an essay question about why it is important for Aboriginal youth to remember and honor the sacrifices and achievements of Aboriginal soldiers who served their country during times of war, military conflict and peace. The deadline was Aug. 15.

According to Julie Daoust, media relations officer for VAC, the names of the veterans and the 13 youth delegates who will take part in the journey will be announced in September. The veterans and youth will be representative of each province and territory.

For more information on the journey and on the participation of Aboriginal people in wartime, visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site at www.vac-acc.gc.ca.