Trust. Integrity. Reputation.
September - 2007Aboriginal veteran forces issues back into spotlight
By Paul Barnsley
Windspeaker Staff Writer
HALIFAX
Tom Eagle just wants Canada's new Conservative Party government to support the troop--and he wants a little help from the chiefs to achieve that goal.
The well-known Aboriginal veteran's advocate showed up at the Assembly of First Nations' (AFN) annual general assembly in July ready to steal the show, and in many ways he did.
Right after the opening ceremonies of the 28th AFN annual chiefs assembly, held this year at the Halifax World Trade and Convention Centre, AFN veterans' committee chair Ray Rogers introduced Eagle to the chiefs. Wearing his medals and veterans' uniform as he spoke at one of the floor microphones, the Yellowknife resident first turned on the charm.
"I was supposed to make my presentation to you in 10 minutes," he said, referring to the AFN's newfound emphasis on keeping speechmaking short and focused. "I was going to speak to you in my Ojibway language, but some of our words are that long, I'd probably say 20 words and my time will be up."
Then the 75-year-old retired platoon commander, who served as a peacekeeper in Cyprus during his 25 years in the military, got to the point.
"I'd like to draw your attention to some of the issues that have been outstanding since after the First World War, 1918, after the Second World War, 1945, and after the Korean War, 1953. We have had so many outstanding issues and, ladies and gentlemen, it's time that we addressed these issues and it's time that we resolve these issues. They've been outstanding for too long," he said. "Our soldiers, men and women, were in the war. They fought side-by-side with their fellow Canadians. They were equal on the battlefield. The enemy didn't say, 'Don't shoot that guy, he's a treaty Indian.' And yet when they came back home, they were treated as second-class citizens-second-class citizens in a Third World."
He reminded the chiefs that the ministry of Veterans Affairs looked after the non-Aboriginal soldiers that returned from those three wars while First Nation soldiers had to deal with the Indian agents. And that was only the start of the different treatment Native soldiers received, he added, since non-Aboriginal veterans received close to $7,000 each when they returned while Native veterans received less than $3,200.
"Some didn't even get a penny," he said.
He noted also that many Native soldiers lost their status and treaty rights when they enlisted and were enfranchised.
"A lot of us have lost our treaty because we served our country and I sure gave an earful to the prime minister about this in Vimy on April 9 of this year. Something has to be done about this," he said.
Eagle said he cornered Minister of Veterans Affairs Greg Thompson in France as well, after the minister had given a speech praising Canada's veterans at the ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge.
"The minister of Veterans Affairs got up to the podium and made a long speech about the contribution of the veterans. Before he even got off the podium, I went up-the whole delegation was there-and I said, 'I don't believe a word you said.' No government has ever recognized the contributions made by First Nations veterans. When are you going to do that?" he said.
He said he asked Thompson that same question on three different occasions during the trip to France.
"After the third occasion, he said 'Tom, we'll have to discuss this.' I wrote four letters to him. I haven't heard anything back. But I will get it. I will meet with him even if I have to go to his residence. We would like to see these issues resolved."
Some veterans have already accepted a government offer, but Eagle said it was a low-ball number. In 2002, the federal government offered Aboriginal veterans a $39-million compensation package. The deal offered around $20,000 to each veteran, but did not admit to any wrongdoing on the part of the Crown. Many refused to accept it.
"They might say to you, 'We already paid $20,000.' Our research came out with a different figure altogether. Because of the money and benefits that they didn't receive, it was something like, in today's money, something like $420,000," he said.
He wants to have an agreement in place with the government in time for Remembrance Day this year.
"There is no resolution in sight. We are starting to forget why we are here as individuals. Who made that possible? Had Canada been taken over by a foreign army, I think we would have a different Canada today and perhaps we wouldn't be at this assembly," he said. "We need your help; we need your support. National chief, I think what's got to be done here about these issues is we would ask you for your blessing. And I think it's about time that we veterans tried to resolve these issues."
Fontaine started his opening address, which followed immediately after Eagle's remarks, with a pledge to support the veterans in their efforts.
"Of course we extend to our veterans our full support," Phil Fontaine said.
After forcefully, but diplomatically, giving the chiefs what for on the first day of the assembly, Tom Eagle hung around for the next two days to buttonhole all the invited guests, which included federal party leaders and Rod Bruinooge, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indian Affairs, several MPs and Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald.
Liberal leader Stephane Dion spoke to the assembly on the last day of the meeting, July 12. He ended his speech with an interesting and somewhat prophetic remark.
"A Liberal government will give First Nations and Aboriginal Canadians the respect they deserve: as partners, as a source of pride to this great country, and as a reason for hope," Dion told the chiefs.
"That is my commitment to you. And like National Chief Phil Fontaine, I too hope that one day an eagle will cross my path and I can say: 'I saw a sign of a good day coming.'"
An eagle crossed the Liberal leader's path just seconds later, right at the bottom of the stairs leading down from the stage where he'd given his speech. The eagle's name was Tom.
While the leader's handlers quietly and discreetly panicked at the unplanned and very public change in plans, Dion agreed to leave the hall for a private meeting with Eagle.
Windspeaker caught up with the veteran afterwards. He laughed out loud and said, "You're damned right," when asked if maybe an eagle had crossed Dion's path a little sooner than he expected.
The veterans sold 50-50 tickets throughout the assembly to pay their travel costs to Halifax, since they do not have access to funding for their work.
In a strange twist, the winner of the draw, holding a ticket worth $1,502, was Sandra Lauren, a researcher for the Liberal Party of Canada caucus. Minutes after she learned she had won, Lauren passed a note to assembly co-chair Joe Miskokomon.
"Please give my winnings to the First Nations veterans and thank them for their efforts on our behalf," the note read.
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