When Sgt. Adrian Last joined the Canadian Rangers in early 2020, he didn’t expect the experience to reconnect him with his Indigenous roots. But over the past five years, serving with the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group in his hometown of Gold River has done exactly that, and given new meaning to a day that honours the generations who came before him. “It’s really important to acknowledge that there are Indigenous veterans, and that there have been Indigenous veterans,” Last told Victoria News. “Even though the relationships in this country haven’t always been perfect, Indigenous people have been fighting for Canada throughout history, right alongside everyone else. We’re all Canadians, and that’s what we fight for.” Each year on Nov. 8, communities across the country mark Indigenous Veterans Day, a national day of remembrance that originated in Winnipeg in 1994. Before its creation, Indigenous veterans were often excluded from Remembrance Day ceremonies. They couldn’t march together as a group or lay wreaths at cenotaphs. The day was established to correct that oversight and recognize the thousands of First Nations, Métis and Inuit soldiers who served in conflicts dating back to the War of 1812. More than 12,000 Indigenous people served in the Canadian Armed Forces in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. Many brought valuable traditional skills to the battlefield, scouts, trackers and snipers whose knowledge of the land made them invaluable in combat. That same spirit of service continues today through the Canadian Rangers, a reserve force made up largely of Indigenous members who patrol and support remote and northern communities. They’re known as the “eyes and ears” of the Canadian Armed Forces, drawing on their traditional knowledge to assist during emergencies, sovereignty patrols and search and rescue operations. In Gold River, the Rangers have been part of the community since 1992. Last joined after his two children became involved in the Junior Canadian Rangers program, and the whole family soon followed suit. “It’s a really good way to serve your community and your country,” he said. “You feel like you’re part of something bigger than just the little villages we’re from.” Through his time with the Rangers, Last has also found space to rediscover parts of his own identity. His mother’s side of the family is Algonquin (Ontario), and he grew up in Mowachaht/Muchalaht (Gold River) territory on Vancouver Island. For years, he said, conversations around their Indigenous background were quiet, even avoided. “My mom was of the age where it wasn’t really talked about,” he said. “For me, joining the Canadian Armed Forces introduced me to strong, proud Indigenous men who encouraged me to explore my culture. It really opened a floodgate for me. It came at the right time.” Now, when Indigenous Veterans Day arrives each November, Last takes it as a day for reflection. “There aren’t big ceremonies in Gold River, but I use these days to think about the people who served before us,” he said. “It’s more meaningful now that I understand that part of my history.” For Last, the day is a reminder that honouring Indigenous veterans isn’t about separation from Canada’s story, it’s about completing it. “It’s all part of the same history,” he said. “Recognizing Indigenous veterans just makes that history more whole.” Indigenous veterans and military personnel will be honoured during an Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. at the cenotaph outside the B.C. legislature. After that, Legion #292 (Trafalgar/Pro Patria) will welcome Sgt. Last and CR. Smecher of the Canadian Rangers from noon until 2 p.m. to share how their local knowledge and heritage help them patrol, provide surveillance, and support the Canadian Armed Forces.
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