Brian St. Germain presents on National Indigenous Veterans Day, telling the story of his father Alphonse Joseph St. Germain, who is pictured above. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

REMEMBERING CPL. A. J. ST. GERMAIN

RDP hosts guest speaker for Indigenous Veterans Day

Nov 8, 2024 | 5:14 PM

November 8 marks National Indigenous Veterans Day, which Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) recognized with a presentation from Brian St. Germain, who’s father served in the Canadian military during WWII.

About 50 people enjoyed soup and bannock while Brian told the story of his father, Corporal Alphonse Joseph St. Germain (1920-2002), and his time serving Canada on the front lines. He also shared background on Indigenous contributions to the military as a whole.

Brian’s curiosity about his father’s journey as a soldier began with why he enrolled in the first place, which Alphonse shed some light on in their discussions.

Some Indigenous citizens joined in effort to escape the oppression of reserve life and the control of the Indian Agents. Others wanted to join family and friends who had already enlisted, or saw it as an opportunity to see the world. Patriotism and a desire to honour the traditional warrior spirit harboured by the Indigenous peoples were factors as well, Brian communicated.

He added that while estimates are rough, about one third of the Indigenous residents eligible to enlist in WWI did so, a volunteer rate he said was, proportionally speaking, higher than any other group in Canada. This brave volunteerism – they were not conscripted – took place before Indigenous Peoples were even granted the right to vote in Canada without losing treaty status.

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Brian also spoke to some of the Indigenous skills that made them invaluable as soldiers.

“Mainly because of the years of trapping and the traditional hunting experience, they could move very quietly without being detected; they could survive off the land; they were excellent marksmen. All of those things worked well for them in the services to Canada,” he said.

In WWII, some also took on the critical and secretive role of code talkers, soldiers that would deliver, and then translate, messages containing sensitive information in Indigenous languages like Cree, so they could not be intercepted by the enemy.

In addition to active army participation, Indigenous Canadians contributed on the home front by working in factories and increasing agricultural production, having reserve lands taken for airports, defense posts, or rifle ranges, monetary donations, and more. Brian added that much of the land taken for these purposes was not returned after the war.

Unfortunately, Indigenous soldiers found their efforts went widely unappreciated, facing racism and being denied the benefits given to other soldiers upon their return home.

Alphonse himself spent his last 11 months serving in WWII as a prisoner of war (POW) in Italian and German POW camps, during which he lost 64 pounds due to the general conditions and poor nutrition of the meals received.

Though he was awarded a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, a 1939-1945 Star, 1939-1945 War Medal, the Italian Star, and the Defense Medal, Alphonse found himself thrown out of a bar in Ponoka when he tried to grab a celebratory drink with friends after finally returning home.

Brian’s uncle, Joseph St. Germain, who fought alongside Alphonse, commented on the switch: “Over there in Europe I was a hero, but back home I was just another Indian.”

Additionally, it was not until November 11, 1995, that Indigenous veterans were allowed to lay Remembrance Day wreaths at the National War Memorial during services. Brian said that now, they have a prominent role in ceremonies and that it’s nice to see this trend in the right direction.

Lloyd Desjarlais, dean of Indigenous initiatives at RDP, said this part of Indigenous history is not often taught or widely known, so it was important to give RDP staff and students and the Red Deer community an opportunity to learn more.

Many government bodies released statements in recognition of the day.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited examples of and thanked the Indigenous community for their service: “Indigenous Peoples are etched into Canada’s military history. They fought alongside British troops in the War of 1812. They served as snipers and scouts during the First and Second World Wars. They put their lives on the line – from Korea to Afghanistan. And today, with more than 2,700 Indigenous members serving in the Armed Forces, their contributions have been both numerous and invaluable.”

Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre acknowledged in his statement that these Indigenous soldiers stood up for Canada “even when their own government was unwilling to stand up for them.”

“Today is a chance to honour these Indigenous heroes. Brave Canadians like Alexander George Edwin Smith, who was decorated for his actions at the Somme. Or Willard Bolduc, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his missions over Germany in the Second World War. Their legacy, and that of other Indigenous sailors, soldiers and aviators, is a powerful one,” he said.

Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations for Alberta, said Indigenous Peoples have a long history of bravery and sacrifice, and offered unique and critical skills that improved Canada’s military operations.

“Today, we remember heroes from our past and acknowledge the almost 3,000 active Indigenous members in the Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force and Primary Reserve Force,” Wilson said. “This day was established to recognize the often-overlooked sacrifices and contributions of Indigenous veterans who served with distinction in the three major wars of the 20th century and beyond.”

Although exact numbers are difficult to determine, the Government of Canada reports that more than 4,000 Indigenous citizens served in WWI and more than 3,000 First Nations members served in WWII in addition to an unknown number of Metis, Inuit, and recruits of other Indigenous identities.