On Wednesday, November 8th, a service will be held at the Veterans Memorial Gardens and Interpretive Centre to mark Indigenous Veterans Day. This year, Randi Gage, one of the people behind getting Indigenous Veterans Day off the ground, will be attending the ceremony in Grande Prairie.
Executive Director of the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association Renee Charbonneau says the gathering will start at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. Charbonneau says the ceremony will be approximately 45 minutes long and will remember and honour both the fallen and veterans who are still with us.
“The Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony that we host is truly a hybrid between what would be considered a military ceremony and an Indigenous ceremony. For example, instead of hearing the bugle break the sound at the moment of silence, you will hear an Indigenous drum.”
This year’s event will also include the unveiling of two new art pieces that have been added to the area. One is called Infinity, which is a Métis war memorial and the other is called Invisible, which is an Indigenous War Memorial.
“Infinity is the infinity symbol, made out of aircraft aluminum and riveted in World War II fashion, and highlighted with solar LED blue lights,” explains Charbonneau. “Invisible is made out of tempered glass, and it features a chief holding his staff and his medicine pouch. He is wearing his full war bonnet, and he is surrounded by a bear, a wolf, an eagle, and a wapiti. He also bears a beautiful copper heart for the woman warrior, and Infinity has copper coloured rivets to honour the female soldier.”
Charbonneau adds both pieces were made by Grant Berg of the Grant Berg Gallery. Aluminum was chosen for Infinity because it is a representative of two medals coming together to create something stronger, and it’s reported Berg used this as a representation of the Métis people.
Those unable to attend this year’s ceremony in person can watch the livestream that will be put up on the Veterans Memorial Gardens and Interpretive Centre Facebook page.
