Beaded poppies bring recognition of Indigenous veterans

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Remembrance poppy in Canada, worn by many to remember the country’s veterans.

Anna Guerin is credited by The Legion as being one of the first to use the distribution of the poppy to raise money for veterans’ needs and to remember the lives lost in World War I.

Now, 100 years later, the Canadian Legion has continued the commemorative tradition.

But another group that deserves recognition during this period of Remembrance are the estimated 12,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit soldiers that contributed to the two world wars, and the many who are still serving to this day.

Canadians might be used to seeing the standard poppy – the one with a silver pin that can be easy to lose – but Indigenous artists are creating beaded poppies to tie in both their heritage and to remember Canadian soldiers.

“The whole reason I started beading was actually so that I could make a beaded poppy in honour of my aunt who was in the air force,” said Rebecca Powder, co-owner of Eagle Bone Whistle Arts and Crafts.

Powder is an Indigenous Cree artist, who says she’s seen the demand for beaded poppies go up over the years.

“It’s handmade. It’s made with leather. It’s made with beads. It’s made with love.”

Unconditional Love is another Edmonton-based Indigenous craft business, and both Traci and Robin Chenoweth have ties to the military.

“Well, my direct connection is Robin because she served for our country and for the U.S. And then I have my godson, my nephew – he’s active right now in the military,” said Traci.

Robin served in the Canadian reserves. She says Indigenous veterans should be treated better in Canada.

“It’s just horrible. How we see our veterans out there and they’re homeless or they live under horrible conditions, you know, they should be treated like kings and queens. It just really hurts the heart,” said Robin.

As an artist, Traci says the standard silver pin poppy by the Legion could be improved.

“I think that the one change that I would actually make is the center would be the medicine wheel because that almost represents every Indigenous person across Canada. And I think if you had that in the center and then have the poppy around it, it would be perfect.”

National Indigenous Veterans Day will be observed on Nov. 8.