A fund-raising gala in Saskatoon tonight is aiming to send First Nation veterans to the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge next year.
In April 1917, the Canadian Army along with several First Nation recruits succeeded in taking Vimy Ridge during World War I. It is considered one of the greatest military victories in Canadian history.
For Mistawasis First Nation Veteran Phillip Ledoux, the victory was quite the accomplishment.
“The French couldn’t take Vimy Ridge, the British couldn’t take Vimy Ridge, the Americans couldn’t take Vimy Ridge. It took the Canadians to land the victory,” says Ledoux.
The Saskatchewan First Nations Veteran Association is hoping to raise enough money to send 20 First Nation veterans to the 100th anniversary of the battle in France in April 2017. Tonight’s gala is a part of that effort.
According to Ledoux, whose uncle died at Vimy Ridge, he says it is about honour.
“We participated and it’s our way of honouring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and a lot of them were our family,” he says.
According to Ledoux Mistawasis First Nation sent 17 veterans to World War I and 5 didn’t return home. Ledoux served the military throughout Canada and spent time in the 1960s in both Lebanon and Cypress with United Nations Peacekeeping missions.
The goal of the SFNVA is to raise nearly $200,000 to be able to send the 20 veterans.
While Ledoux says he would like to go he believes his ailing health will prevent him from being able to attend.