November 8 is #IndigenousVeteransDay in Canada.
On National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2001, a monument to Indigenous Veterans was unveiled in Ottawa, the result of the hard work & perseverance of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples & Senator Nick Taylor.
Sculptor & painter Lloyd Pinay of Peepeekisis First Nation in Saskatchewan designed the Monument which is reflective of all Indigenous peoples in Canada: First Nations, Métis & Inuit. His dad was a WW2 Veteran & was severely wounded towards the end of the war.
The richly symbolic sculpture represents the stories of thousands of men & women who have played a decisive role in defending the freedom of our country. It symbolizes the strength of the Indigenous peoples' beliefs as drawn from the natural world around them. The artist makes frequent use of the number 4, which has spiritual importance for many Indigenous peoples. The four warriors (two men & two women), which represent the diversity of First Nations, Metis & Inuit people, are facing the 4 cardinal directions.
The 4 animal figures are spirit guides associated with qualities admired by Indigenous cultures: the elk for its sharp senses, the buffalo for its tenacity, the bear for its healing powers & the wolf for its family values. A triumphant eagle perches at the top & represents the Creator (known as Thunderbird) & embodies the spirit of the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
The artist has conveyed a sense of balance by representing opposites: 2 predators & 2 prey, 2 women & 2 men, 2 weapons & 2 spiritual objects — the eagle feather fan & the peace pipe. Through this work, Pinay expresses the idea that the desire for peace often lies at the root of war.
The upper portion is made of bronze. A brown patina was applied to the entire monument while certain portions had an application of a patina to give it a gold sheen. The base is diamond brown stone from a quarry in Shawinigan.
You can learn more here: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/people-and-stories/indigenous-veterans
#buyapoppy #wewillrememberthem #CanadaRemembers
