Métis veterans finally get due respect from Ottawa
As a sailor, George Watson bravely faced bombardment from the sea and from the air in the Atlantic theatre. As a Métis, he was ignominiously ignored by the Canadian government after the Second World War ended.
All Métis veterans were ignored, until Ottawa apologized in September for the callous snub and created a $30-million legacy payment, of which $20,000 goes to each Métis veteran who can be found, or their estate.
“They were told that, if you join the military, you and your family will be looked after,” said Clara Morin Dal Col, president of Métis Nation B.C.
“When they came back, they were told to go back to the land and go trapping.
“So, this is hugely important for our veterans.”
It took several decades of lobbying to get the federal government to deal with Second World War Métis veterans, said Clément Chartier, president of Métis National Council, during a ceremony at the Finnish House in Vancouver to honour Watson and give him his cheque.
“Métis Nation veterans were the last veterans in this country to be acknowledged and recognized. This is a big day for us.”
Lacking access to the same support programs as other veterans, Métis were also handicapped because they had been told when signing up to identify as English or French, making finding them after the war difficult.
Some 17 Métis veterans have so far been presented with their cheques, Watson being the second in B.C.
Chartier headed to Saskatchewan to present more cheques today.
“The Métis Nation, we’ve always been having a hard struggle for recognition. We’ve been generally excluded and marginalized from Canadian society,” Chartier said.
Going back to the Red River and North-West rebellions and the hanging of Louis Riel (who is cited by many as a Father of Confederation for his prime role in the creation of Manitoba), the federal government dealt with the Métis through an individualized process of land allocation and not treaties, thus marginalizing them, Chartier said.
“It’s only in the past 25-30 years that we’ve been getting our rightful place in Canada,” he said. “One of the remaining battles was with respect to Second World War and Métis Nation veterans. All other veterans in this country have been dealt with. We are the last.
“Many are buried in graves overseas, and many came home to find adversity still in their communities. So, for them it’s a fitting tribute.”
The Métis were recognized in the 1982 Constitution as a distinct Indigenous people who emerged around 300 years ago in the Prairies, the product of voyager fur traders and First Nations wives.
A new nation emerged, Chartier said, with its own language, culture, traditions, foods, beading (Watson received a beaded poppy along with his cheque), clothing and fiddle music.
“We’re not well known, but getting there now,” he said.