The Whitecap Dakota First Nation held its annual veterans’ memorial service late last week.

A total of five First Nations veterans were honoured at this year’s ceremony.

Chief Darcy Bear says the 2014 ceremony took on a special significance after Canadian soldier Corporal Nathan Cirillo was targeted and killed by a gunman at the National War Memorial in Ottawa a few weeks ago.

“Right in our own country, to have one of our own soldiers killed, you know – during the Throne Speech in Regina I was there and it’s just this whole new awareness that it can happen anywhere,” he says.

Bear also says First Nations people have played a large role for the Canadian Forces in both World Wars, the Korean War and various overseas missions but it has not always been recognized.

“All of our veterans that did enlist, they did it voluntarily but because also this is our country and together we all have to protect it. Unfortunately, though, when they returned some of them didn’t get the same benefits that our other war veterans received. They were given land grants, etc., First Nations veterans were overlooked and they were just given lands within their reservations.”

Local veterans honoured at the ceremony included Harold Littlecrow, Lorne Littlecrow, Peter Buffalo, Archie Waditaka and June Eagle.

Local veteran Willis Royal was one of the keynote speakers.

This is the ninth year the veterans’ memorial service has taken place.