The National Métis Veterans’ Memorial Monument, first unveiled at Back-to-Batoche in July of 2014, has been engraved in honour of all Métis veterans.  It was the idea of Lennard Morin of Cumberland House, who worked tirelessly to grow support for the monument. He had created a local one for the many veterans of his community, and lobbied others including the Métis Nation of Canada to get behind his idea for a national monument, because of the poor treatment of Métis veterans historically, once they returned home.

“The Métis have never been honoured with their own monument,” noted Karon Shmon of Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI). “There were numerous calls right across Canada to ask people to submit information of Métis veterans whose names should be inscribed but there are some jurisdictions that have yet to put forth names of Métis veterans.”

Related:

• Monument for veterans unveiled at this year's B2B
• PHOTO GALLERY: 2016 Back to Batoche

Research was also undertaken by GDI. They know there are many more names out there and only half a pillar left uninscribed, so the vision is a second set of pillars to circle the existing ones, which will again take more fundraising.

Currently 5500 names are on the monument and GDI has created a directory to locate specific names on the monument with the hope that eventually they can create a visitor centre at the monument to house a physical copy of the guide. Meanwhile their website contains links to look up where to locate specific names, and to allow people who cannot physically access the site the ability to still see the names on the pillars, online via photographs.

“The importance of Métis veterans to the Métis community cannot be understated. Our veterans occupy a point of honour at all Métis gatherings and cultural events,” notes the GDI website.

Support has come from various organizations including local fundraising, the Manitoba Métis Federation and the government, towards the initial $300 000 to build and engrave the monument. Donations to maintain, engrave, and add onto the current monument are still being sought by GDI, who did all the fiscal and practical management details of the monument.

Three current fundraisers include the sale of beaded poppies for $15 or more; Cathy Littlejohn’s book Métis Soldiers of Saskatchewan: 1914-1953; and the CD Honouring Our Heroes: A Tribute to Métis Veterans, featuring Métis performing artists Donny Parenteau, Andrea Menard, Ray St. Germain, Jess Lee, Mike Gouchie, and Krystle Pederson. 100% of the sales of these three items go towards the monument’s upkeep and engraving process. Additionally, donations over $10 are eligible for a tax receipt from GDI which is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization. As an added incentive, donations over $25 receive the CD and donations over $50 receive the book.

If you know of a veteran who has not been included to date, you can contact GDI.

“The veterans of 1885 are on there, the Great Wars I and II, Korea, Afghanistan and even peace-serving veterans,” noted Shmon. “Métis veterans did not receive the same benefits when they came back as other veterans, so it’s been painful for Métis veterans not to receive the recognition; and so this is an opportunity to recognize their service and sacrifice.”

Shmon noted there are also female Métis veterans included on the monument.

“We will continue to collect. Names are on in random order because if you go by order of conflict or alphabetically, what do you do when you get new names? This way they are spaced to fit the columns, and you can search the database to find which pillar and even which row.”