National Aboriginal Veterans Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Aboriginal Veterans Monument |
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| National Aboriginal Veterans Association | |
National Aboriginal Veterans Monument
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| For Aboriginal peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) who served with the Canadian forces during armed conflicts | |
| Unveiled | June 21, 2001 |
| Location | 45°25′18.04″N 075°41′34.66″W / 45.4216778°N 75.6929611°W near |
| Designed by | Lloyd Pinay |
| Commemorated | Up to 12,000 |
The National Aboriginal Veterans Monument is a special monument in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It honors the brave Aboriginal peoples (like First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) who served in wars and peacekeeping missions. This includes their service from World War I until today.
The monument was designed by Lloyd Pinay. He is from the Peepeekisis First Nation in Saskatchewan. His own father fought in the D-Day battle during World War II. The monument was officially shown to the public on June 21, 2001. This day is known as National Aboriginal Day. Adrienne Clarkson, who was the Governor General of Canada at the time, unveiled it in Confederation Park.
Contents
Building the Monument
The monument is made of bronze and sits on a base of marble. This marble was taken from a quarry in Shawinigan, Quebec. The entire monument was built between 2000 and 2001. It was created on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Urban Reserve in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This area is part of Treaty Six Territory.
Once it was finished, the monument was carefully taken apart. This made it easier to transport all the way to Ottawa. Then, it was put back together again in its final spot.
What the Monument Means
The sculptor, Lloyd Pinay, explained the main idea behind his design. He said that "the reason for war is in all likelihood a desire for peace." This means that even when people fight, they are often hoping for peace in the end.
Important Symbols
The monument shows a golden eagle at the top. The eagle is seen as a messenger between the Creator and people. It also represents the Creator and the spirit of Aboriginal people. Sometimes it is called a Thunderbird.
Below the eagle, there are four human figures. They face the four main directions (north, south, east, west). These figures represent the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
Role of Women
Lloyd Pinay felt it was very important to include female figures. This shows that women played a big part. They were not only nurses during conflicts. They also kept families strong and safe while the men were away fighting.
Objects and Animals
The human figures hold different objects. Some hold weapons, showing their role in fighting. Others hold spiritual items, like an eagle feather fan and a peace pipe. These items represent peace and tradition.
There are also four animal figures, one on each corner of the monument. These animals act as spirit guides. Each animal has a special meaning:
