Batchewana honours veterans with new park (5 photos)

Batchewana First Nation is acknowledging the sacrifices made by Anishinaabe war veterans with the establishment of a park and playground named in their honour. 

A number of community members were on hand for the unveiling of Veterans Park in Rankin as part of Remembrance Day events taking place throughout Batchewana territory Friday. 

Chief Dean Sayers says many people from Batchewana sacrificed their lives to ensure the freedom of others when 600 canoes were deployed during the War of 1812. Among the casualties was Chief Wabechchake, father to Chief Nebenaigoching.  

“We paid a big price in the defence of these lands, just as the new settlers to our lands have also paid a big price and they continue to help defend our freedoms. We support them, we appreciate that,” said Sayers. “But we can never lose sight of our ancestors and our warriors who also paid a big price.”

Batchewana First Nation will also lay wreaths down in its outlying communities, Goulais Bay 15A and Obadjiwan 15E at Batchawana Bay, as part of its Remembrance Day itinerary.  

“Our warriors also defend the lands on the lands in the outlying communities and protect the forest, protect the water. We have to go where they were too, as much as we can, and we have to be more reflective of who we are and the diversity of how we moved around,” said Sayers. “We are going to go to these outlying communities, and we will recognize and honour our ancestors throughout our territories.” 

Elders, veterans and community members welcomed Assembly of First Nations National Chief Roseanne Archibald, who attended Remembrance Day ceremonies in Rankin Friday morning. 

“I really appreciate her coming here and sharing her thoughts and her perspective, and really encouraging our young people to get involved in leadership,” said Sayers. “We really want our young kids to dare to dream. You can be whatever you like — you set the goals and you work towards it and you can do it — and she’s a living example of that.
“It’s really nice to have her here, out of her busy schedule, to come here to Bawating. It’s a real honour.”

The historical significance of Batchewana First Nation is not lost on Archibald. 

“This community has a long history of warriors that go back to the War of 1812, and I wanted to attend a community event that had significance throughout all the wars,” said the national chief, speaking with reporters during the unveiling of Veterans Park. “Batchewana is a community that’s known for their warriors, and so I wanted to be here to commemorate this day with them.”

Archibald says Indigenous veterans were never conscripted to go to war; they volunteered for a number of reasons, including the protection of the treaty relationship and protecting the lands and waters from invaders.  

“It really was important for us to acknowledge the special contribution that our Indigenous veterans made using their language, and code talking was one of the unique ways that veterans contributed to ending the war and having peace across the world. But they weren’t treated well when they came home. They didn’t get the same land base that other veterans got. If they did get any kind of pension, it was controlled by the Indian agent,” said Archibald. “There [were] a lot of injustices against our veterans, and those hurts still exist today, and so as we move forward, I really want to see us lift up Indigenous veterans and acknowledge their great contributions to peace, prosperity and freedom of Turtle Island, or what’s now known as Canada.”