Hundreds gathered in&nbsp;Scotchfort, P.E.I., on Friday for National Aboriginal Veterans Day.

Nov.&nbsp;8 is a day set aside to mark&nbsp;Indigenous contributions to Canada's war efforts over the years.

Abegweit First Nation, soldiers gather to remember Canada's Indigenous veterans

Veterans, elders and community members gathered at the Abegweit First Nation Chapel Thursday to honour Canada's Indigenous soldiers.

Gloria Bernard's son Erik was honoured by his comrades at the National Aborginal Veteran's Day ceremony at the Abegweit First Nation.

Army

Gloria Bernard's son Erik was honoured by his comrades at the National Aborginal Veterans Day ceremony at the Abegweit First Nation.

P.E.I. remembrance ceremony highlights Indigenous contributions to Canada's war efforts

A remembrance ceremony in Charlottetown highlighted Indigenous contributions to Canada's war efforts over the years. According to Veterans Affairs Canada,12,000 Indigenous soldiers fought in the two world wars and Korea.

The Rotary remembrance included the laying of a wreath by PEI Regiment Trooper Blake Bernard of the Lennox Island First Nation.

Indigenous remembrance 2

Mi'kmaq veterans John D. Scully and Stephen Bernard were part of MacDonald's presentation. All photos were loaned to the Mi'kmaq Confederacy by Lennox Island First Nation and Abegweit Mi'kmaw Nation community members. 

Mi'kmaq veterans 1

It&nbsp;was&nbsp;the second time the Abegweit First Nation hosted a special ceremony to honour the many Mi'kmaq Islanders who served for Canada.&nbsp;

According to Veterans Affairs Canada,12,000 Indigenous soldiers fought in the world wars and Korea.

Tim Sock's, grandfather and great-grandfather served in both world wars.

Tim Sock

Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould fights back tears as he reads through the list of community members who went to war for Canada.  

Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould

Lt. Col. Glenn Moriarty, commanding officer of P.E.I. Regiment laying a wreath.

Lt. Col. Glenn Moriarty

P.E.I. regiment members look on as Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould speaks. 

Mi’kmaq dancers performing as part of the ceremony.

Mi’kmaq dancers

99-year-old P.E.I. veteran still haunted by memories of war

A 99-year-old veteran of the Second World War from Freeland will be home on P.E.I. this Remembrance Day for the first time in years, and says his memories of war are still vivid, all these years later.

Wallace J. Palmer shown now at his home in Summerside, and in an undated photo from his time as a soldier during the Second World War. 

Wallace J. Palmer 

Wallace J. Palmer shown now at his home in Summerside, left, and in an undated photo from his time as a soldier during the Second World War. 

Library exhibits pay tribute to Island soldiers

The exhibits, put together by the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, feature life in the trenches, Mi'kmaq service and women in wartime. They are on display at the Montague Rotary Library, Cornwall Public Library and Murray River's Leona Giddings Memorial Library, respectively. 

The uniform worn by Lois Reta Mackay Thurgood is part of the display at Murray River’s Leona Giddings Memorial Library.

Lois Reta Mackay Thurgood

Matthew McRae, curator of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, shows a gas mask from the Second World War.

Matthew MacRae

Elder Junior Peter-Paul bows his head and raises his arm after laying a wreath.

Hundreds gather to mark National Aboriginal Veterans Day on P.E.I.

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