Prior to the traditional Remembrance Day service at the community recreation complex, a small contingent gathered at the nearby pow wow grounds for a flag-raising ceremony in recognition of their special guest, Joseph Sandy, who at 99 is the eldest living indigenous veteran in Manitoba. He sat and listened quietly as the proceedings unfolded.
Band Councillor Gerald Sandy spoke in his native Dakota language and drummers Darrell Brown, Tyrone Chaske and Terence Brown performed a flag song and a victory song.
“I said that our indigenous men at that time, and all the indigenous veterans across Canada…they weren’t really given a fair treatment when they came back after their duty service,” Sandy said in a later interview. “We are going to have our own day to recognize our own veterans what are still here with us in peace time. That’s why we wanted to raise our flags in honour of them. Those are the flags they fought under for our freedom.”
At the complex, there was the traditional reading of In Flanders Fields – this time by Cst. Shingoose of the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, the playing of the Last Post and a moment of silence in memory of fallen comrades. It was a proud moment as drummers and singers performed a flag song and an honour song and Joe Sandy was gifted with a star quilt made for him by Chief Lola Thunderchild’s eldest sister.
Myra Taylor, who along with Sandy’s grandson Derrick made the presentation, reflected on its significance.
“The star quilt is the highest honour that we would give to our people,” she said. “It brings healing.”
Sandy was also given a Pendelton blanket, a sweet grass and a beaded poppy by Thunderchild.
Gerald Sandy said that plans to recognize and honour his uncle, who is just weeks shy of his 100th birthday, were put on hold by COVID-19, and he was pleased with how everything unfolded.
“It means a lot to us that he’s still able to be with us today,” he said. “We wanted to honour him in some way. The last couple of years we couldn’t get together.”
