Batchewana First Nation recognizes the sacrifices made by Anishinaabe war veterans by establishing a park and playground named in their honor. A number of community members were on hand for the unveiling of Veterans Park in Rankin as part of Memorial Day events held across Batswana territory on Friday. Chief Dean Sayers says many people from Batchewana sacrificed their lives to secure the freedom of others when 600 canoes were used during the War of 1812. Among the victims was Chief Wabechchake, father of Chief Nebenaigoching.
“We paid a high price to defend these lands, just as the new settlers on our lands have paid a high price and continue to help defend our freedoms. We support them, we appreciate that,” Sayers said. “But we can never forget our ancestors and our warriors who also paid a great price.” Batchewana First Nation will also lay wreaths in its remote communities of Goulais Bay 15A and Obadjiwan 15E on Batchawana Bay as part of its Remembrance Day drive.
“Our warriors also defend the territories in the territories in the remote communities and protect the forest, protect the water. We have to go where they’ve been, as much as we can, and we have to think more about who we are and the diversity of how we’ve moved,” Sayers said. “We will go to these remote communities and recognize and honor our ancestors in all our areas.” Elders, veterans and community members welcomed Assembly of First Nations National Chief Roseanne Archibald, who attended Remembrance Day ceremonies in Rankin Friday morning. “I really appreciate her coming here and sharing her thoughts and perspective, and really encouraging our young people to get involved in leadership,” Sayers said. “We really want our young children to dare to dream. You can be anything you want to be — you set the goals and work towards it and you can do it — and she is a living example of that. “It’s great to have her here, outside of her busy schedule, to come here to Bawating. It’s a real honor.” The historical significance of the Batchewana First Nation is not lost on Archibald. “This community has a long history of warriors dating back to the War of 1812, and I wanted to attend a community event that had significance in all wars,” the national leader said, speaking to reporters at the unveiling of Veterans Park. “Batchewana is a community known for its warriors and so I wanted to be here to commemorate this day with them.” Archibald says Indigenous veterans were never drafted to go to war. they volunteered for a variety of reasons, including protecting the treaty relationship and protecting the lands and waters from invaders.
“It was really important for us to recognize the special contribution that our indigenous veterans made using their language and code speaking was one of the unique ways that veterans contributed to ending war and achieving peace around the world. But they were not treated well when they returned home. They didn’t get the same land base that other veterans got. If they got any kind of pension, they were controlled by the Indian agent,” Archibald said. “There [were] many injustices against our veterans, and those wounds still exist today, and so as we move forward, I really want to see us lift up Indigenous veterans and recognize their great contribution to the peace, prosperity and freedom of Turtle Island or whatever now happens to be known as Canada’.