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Veterans, community members march and gather for National Aboriginal Veterans Day in Metro Vancouver

Veterans and community members marched down the streets of downtown Vancouver to honour the sacrifice and memories of Indigenous soldiers for National Aboriginal Veterans Day. 

Tsleil-Waututh Nation also held a ceremony at Whey-ah-Wichen (Cates Park)

CBC News ·
In front of a cenotaph, people are standing with their heads bowed down. They are wearing blankets and hats with Indigenous designs. In the foreground are wreaths with poppies and purple ribbons.
First Nations veterans are honoured during a ceremony at Victory Square in Vancouver, on National Aboriginal Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Veterans and community members marched down the streets of downtown Vancouver to honour the sacrifice and memories of Indigenous soldiers for National Aboriginal Veterans Day. 

Aboriginal Veterans Day was established in 1994 in Manitoba, and has since been recognized annually across the country as National Aboriginal Veterans Day, on Nov. 8.

The Vancouver march on Wednesday ended with a commemorative event at Victory Square Park, beside the cenotaph honouring First World War veterans.

Meanwhile in North Vancouver, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation held a ceremony at Whey-ah-Wichen (Cates Park), one of the Nation's ancestral village sites, honouring their veterans.

CBC's Ben Nelms attended the events to capture moments throughout the day. 

A woman sitting in a wheelchair holds a black and white photo of a soldier. She is wearing black gloves, a beige jacket, colourful scarf and a beaded poppy.
Viviane Sandy holds a photo of her uncle George Gilbert, who served with the Canadian infantry in the Second World War, during the National Aboriginal Veterans Day ceremony at Victory Square in Vancouver. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
People and tents circle a cenotaph
People surround the cenotaph at Victory Square in Vancouver, B.C., on National Aboriginal Veterans Day. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
People stand in a line on the side of a street holding flags. Some of them are wearing uniforms with berets and war medals clipped onto their jackets. In the middle is a man in a red jacket holding a pole with white and red cloth tied on and a large bird at the top.
People are seen marching towards Victory Square in Vancouver, B.C. Aboriginal Veterans Day was established in 1994 in Manitoba, and has since been recognized annually across the country as National Aboriginal Veterans Day. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Shot of a man in red uniform and a hat with his back turned to the camera
RCMP Cpl. Anthony Cameron from Waywayseecappo Treaty 4 is pictured during a ceremony at Victory Square during National Aboriginal Veterans Day. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Veterans in uniforms and community members walk down the middle of a street holding various flags, including one of Canada and British Columbia.
People are pictured during the march in downtown Vancouver, which ended with a commemorative event at Victory Square beside the cenotaph honouring First World War veterans. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
A man in a blue hat and jacket with a red sash is hanging up a white sign that reads, "National Indigenous Veterans Day, November 8."
A cadet hangs a banner during the event's opening ceremony. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
A man in a black jacket, toque and baseball hat is holding a phone in one hand and saluting with the other. In the foreground are two women holding a wreath with a purple ribbon.
A bystander salutes veterans during the ceremony. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Three people walking in a line at a park overlooking a body of water
Veterans Michael Wilson, Dennis Owens and Celina Dorame of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation are honoured during a ceremony at Cates/Whey-ah-Wichen Park in North Vancouver on Nov. 8, 2023. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Five people participating in a prayer song with drums and garlands in their hands
Tsleil-Waututh drummers performed a prayer song during a National Aboriginal Veterans Day ceremony at Cates/Whey-ah-Wichen Park in North Vancouver. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
People in Indigenous attire at a ceremony
Tsleil-Waututh Nation community veterans were honoured during Wednesday's event. Whey-ah-Wichen is one of the Nation's ancestral village sites. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
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