Surrey Schools remembers and honours First Nations soldiers for National Indigenous Veterans Day
Ken Florence, a member of the Katzie First Nation who was an active service man in the Second World War. (Submitted by Paula James)
In recognition of the service and sacrifice of Indigenous soldiers in Canada’s history, Surrey Schools and schools across Surrey and White Rock are taking time this week to remember Indigenous heroes of war for National Indigenous Veterans Day.
Observed every Nov. 8, National Indigenous Veterans Day honours the contributions of more than 7,000 Indigenous soldiers to the First World War, Second World War and Korean War. The day was established in Manitoba in 1994 and acknowledges the courage of Indigenous soldiers in the country’s war efforts, as well as its peacekeeping reputation.
For Paula James, senior Indigenous language and cultural facilitator with Indigenous Learning, recognizing the contributions of Indigenous soldiers is part of her family history. She is the cousin of two Katzie First Nations soldiers, Ken Florence and William Charnley.
Born in Port Hammond, B.C., on April 30th, 1925, Florence was the oldest of 15 children and attended the on-reserve Katzie School until Grade 7. At 19, he was conscripted and joined the army as an active service man toward the end of the Second World War.
Florence did his basic training at Little Mountain Barracks in Vancouver and Gordon Head Barracks in Victoria, followed by advanced training in Calgary, Alta. and Dundern, Sask. While the war ended before he could be shipped overseas, he continued in the army until 1946. He passed away in 2008.
“He was very, very proud of his time in the army and that he served his country,” said James. “He was respected, loved and admired by so many people. In fact, he was an icon.”
William Charnley, a member of the Katzie First Nation who served as a flying officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force. (Submitted by Paula James)
Charnley was born in 1936 and was a flying officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), serving in the 414 All Weather Fighter Squadron at the RCAF Station North Boy, as well as the Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at RCAF Station Gander, Nfld. He passed away prematurely in 1964 at the age of 28 while stationed in Nova Scotia.
“My grandparents and his siblings were so proud of his brilliant intellect and for his accomplishment in reaching for his goal of becoming an airplane pilot,” wrote Charnley’s niece, Kerrie Charnley, in a graduate paper for UBC.
Surrey Schools resides on the traditional, unceded and shared territories of Coast Salish peoples: the Katzie (q̓íc̓əy̓), Kwantlen (q̓ʷa:n̓ƛ̓ən̓) and Semiahmoo (SEMYOME) First Nations.
With more than 3,000 students of Indigenous ancestry, the district recognizes the importance of upholding Indigenous history by recognizing National Indigenous Veterans Day.
Last year, Lena Shaw Elementary students wrote letters to Indigenous veterans, with the research of Indigenous enhancement worker Diego Wolfevillage sparking the Royal Canadian Legion to establish a committee dedicated to identifying Indigenous veterans.
Other schools such as Fraser Heights Secondary have recognized Indigenous veterans through ceremonies and in-class activities commemorating their contributions to Canada.
For more information on National Indigenous Veterans Day, visit veterans.gc.ca
To all of Canada’s Indigenous veterans, we thank you for your service.
