Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L) and Chief Darcy Bear of Whitecap Dakota First Nation take part in a War of 1812 National Recognition Ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa October 25, 2012.
Photograph by: Blair Gable, Ottawa Citizen.
photo By Charles Hamilton, The StarPhoenix
Two hundred years after thousands of aboriginal people
helped defeat American forces in the War of 1812, Canada is officially
recognizing the contribution of Saskatchewan Dakota First Nations.
In Ottawa earlier this week, representatives of the Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation, Wahpeton Dakota First Nation and Whitecap Dakota First Nation accepted flags and medals from the Canadian government on behalf of their communities.
"If you think about it if we lost the war we would have a United States flag flying over us, we would have Barack Obama as our president," said Whitecap Dakota Chief Darcy Bear. "But we don't. We have an independent nation because of those warriors and those soldiers who fought together. "
The war was fought mainly in the western Great Lakes, Niagara and St. Lawrence regions.
But descendants of aboriginal people who fought alongside the British eventually settled in Saskatchewan.
Bear said only now, 200 years later, are people realizing the significance of the war and the contributions his ancestors made.
"A lot of people think in 1867 somebody flipped a switch and there was Canada.
"But we had humble beginnings," Bear said.
"We have to reflect and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It's very significant that Canada has come forward and presented these medals in honour of our ancestors."
Whitecap Dakota was just one of 48 First Nations and Metis communities recognized for their role in the War of 1812. Bear and others were presented with medals by Gov. Gen. David Johnston.
"It was good to be there and accept on behalf of my community, but also on behalf of my ancestors. I'm very proud of the role they played in creating Canada," Bear said.Read here.
War of 1812
In Ottawa earlier this week, representatives of the Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation, Wahpeton Dakota First Nation and Whitecap Dakota First Nation accepted flags and medals from the Canadian government on behalf of their communities.
"If you think about it if we lost the war we would have a United States flag flying over us, we would have Barack Obama as our president," said Whitecap Dakota Chief Darcy Bear. "But we don't. We have an independent nation because of those warriors and those soldiers who fought together. "
The war was fought mainly in the western Great Lakes, Niagara and St. Lawrence regions.
But descendants of aboriginal people who fought alongside the British eventually settled in Saskatchewan.
Bear said only now, 200 years later, are people realizing the significance of the war and the contributions his ancestors made.
"A lot of people think in 1867 somebody flipped a switch and there was Canada.
"But we had humble beginnings," Bear said.
"We have to reflect and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It's very significant that Canada has come forward and presented these medals in honour of our ancestors."
Whitecap Dakota was just one of 48 First Nations and Metis communities recognized for their role in the War of 1812. Bear and others were presented with medals by Gov. Gen. David Johnston.
"It was good to be there and accept on behalf of my community, but also on behalf of my ancestors. I'm very proud of the role they played in creating Canada," Bear said.Read here.
War of 1812
Source: Canadian Museum of Civilization.
A year before the War of 1812, in a desperate
fight against U.S. expansion into native lands, Tecumseh and his allies
took on the Americans at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
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