Even though they face discrimination here at home, Indigenous soldiers have been fighting for Canada for generations.

In the past, their contributions were often unrecognized, but this is no longer the case. In 1994, Aboriginal Veterans Day was officially recognized by the federal government.

Veterans like Devin Beaudry say the importance of this event, born in Winnipeg, is increasingly understood by more and more Canadians.

“I know it’s starting to spread across the country,” Beaudry said. “It’s not celebrated everywhere, but in some provinces it is, with the exception (only) of Manitoba.”

Winston Wuttunee spent 15 years of his life serving in the Canadian Army, where he was deployed to Cyprus as a peacekeeper. He served our country, despite the treatment he sometimes received growing up.

“When I walked into the rink, the guy running the rink said to me, ‘Look at that Indian. He thinks he can go anywhere for nothing!’ It just hurts to hear that,” Wuttunee recalled.

But despite this injury, Wuttunee still served in the army. He is not alone.

Thousands of Indigenous people have served in the Canadian military from the First World War to the present.

The sacrifices made by all these veterans were honored in Winnipeg on Friday at an Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony.

“Everything we do every day, earning a living with our children, is because of veterans and their sacrifices,” said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. “And when we think about the unique history of Indigenous veterans here in Canada, I think it’s important that they are recognized as well.”

While there is still work to be done, Indigenous veterans like Winston Wuttunee say Canada has come a long way and recognitions like this are part of the journey.