THUNDER BAY — The Agora in Lakehead University is now home to an Indigenous Veterans Exhibit of Northwestern Ontario.
The exhibit opened on Wednesday, which featured several speakers including Indigenous veteran Jan Ritchie, a former member of the United States Marine Corps.
Ritchie, is a member of the Saugeen First Nation and resides in Sault Ste Marie, said having the exhibit and an event honouring Indigenous veterans represents a step in the right direction towards reconciliation for everyone.
“A lot of the stories are being passed on orally, and thinking about it today, I believe we have to find new ways of educating the people, utilizing the technology we have now to preserve the culture and the language to preserve those stories,” Ritchie said after the ceremony. “Having this exhibit here is very insightful and helps to be able to pass on those stories so that they are not forgotten.”
National Aboriginal Veterans Day began in Winnipeg in 1994 to recognize Indigenous veterans on Remembrance Day. More than 12,000 Indigenous people are estimate to have volunteered in all three wars and over 2,700 Indigenous people are in active military service in 2023.
Lakehead University president Gillian Siddall used her remarks to recognize local veterans including Nipigon's Pte. Joseph DeLaronde (Nipigon), Thomas Godchere of Long Lake, as well as Peter and Augustin Belanger of Fort William First Nation.
Ritchie also spoke about what skills he learned in active service that helped him rejoin the community as a civilian.
“[I learned how to] do community work. I am very loyal, structured and [very] passionate about our culture,” he stated. “I am also a very good runner. [We worked] on that [skill, and I try and] carry on the culture by going to different community events for ultra running. I have [had the opportunity to travel] all over the world [and] participating in [several] events and meet interesting people.”
The president also recognized other veterans such as code-talkers Charles Checker Tompkins and nurse Edith Anderson Monture, who contributed during the First World War.
The university unveiled plans for a future permanent and portable exhibit on campus that will be a collaboration with the Native Veterans Association of Northwestern Ontario, Treaty 3 Indigenous Veteran Exhibit, the Thunder Bay Museum and the City of Thunder Bay.
The Indigenous Veterans Exhibit of Northwestern Ontario Exhibit is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Friday.
