One of the 20 First Nations veterans salutes the new war memorial in front of Chief Ahtakakohp School. (Nick Nielsen/paNOW)

By Nick Nielsen

Remembrance Day Ceremony

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation honours veterans with new war memorial

Nov 8, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Students and staff at Chief Ahtahkakohp School celebrated their annual Remembrance Day Ceremony on Thursday just the same as most schools around the country, but this one had an extra piece to the end of their ceremony. Veterans and citizens from the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation watched the unveiling of a war memorial in front of the school that will immortalize those who fought for our country from right in their own community.

The monument pays tribute to members of the First Nation that fought in both World Wars, the Korean War, and the war in Afghanistan, as well as members that enlisted and trained for the World Wars but never went into service, Peacekeepers that travelled to Bosnia and Croatia, and members of the Canadian Militia.

Chief of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Larry Ahenakew, said that there is a lot of pride in the community for the veterans that served, and he was proud to see so many of them come out to see the unveiling.

“Our First Nations people didn’t have to go to war, but they went to war even against their treaty rights, they went to war to save our lives, to save this country, to keep us all safe here. We had a lot of good speakers here today, some veterans here that spoke just to share the history of why our First Nations people went to war, but again, just a very exciting day for us.”

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As part of their treaty rights, First Nations people did not have to enlist during the World War conflicts in the 1900s, but many stepped up for both the new country forming around them and to protect the land their people had always called home. During those wars, First Nations were regarded as heroes for stepping up to defend Canada, but upon those wars ending, their heroism was quickly forgotten.

One story shared during the service was the story of Francis Pegahmagabow, Canada’s deadliest sniper during World War II originally from Parry Sound, Ontario. He is credited with killing 378 Nazis and capturing over 300 more during his service which spanned nearly the entire war.

Principal of the Chief Ahtakakohp School Shaun Sasakamoose shared that he has shared that tough part of our country’s history with his students before, and it makes the Remembrance Day service their school hosts all the more important.

“These wars happened at a time when residential schools were in the forefront, and the pass and permit system had just left our First Nations, and still our men and women went to war for a country that they didn’t know, for a government they did not serve, just because they’re warriors. I often express that to our kids, when I read those names off, it’s not just a poppy, that’s our bloodlines. Those are our descendants. You be very proud of that blood because it courses through all of our veins.”

Sasakamoose continued, “I think our kids need to be really cognizant of that and not take for granted this freedom to be out in the air and not to be scared of bombs falling on us. On the other side of the world that is happening and we enjoy that peace and the comfort of life because of what our ancestors did for us.”

A number of the last names on the memorial show up multiple times, and those names are still present in Ahtahkakoop. Sasakamoose said that those family names still here today are living proof that the sacrifices made were not in vain.

“None of those families have disappeared off the face of the earth. Like Masukapoe, that’s a fallen soldier. He never came back. Charles Masukapoe, he’s buried in France and their lineage still lives on. Their legacy is still here. I often speak of legacy and our kids are that legacy. They went to war and it wasn’t for nothing. Our people are still here, still standing strong.”

The name Charles Masukapoe is one that brings a sense of pride to the Ahtakakohp community. Masukapoe fought overseas during the first World War and was never found, and therefore never returned home. Chief Ahenakew is hopeful that next year they can erect a monument is his honour for the sacrifice he made.

“He died in the war and they never did find him, so they never brought him home. So he’s still in Europe somewhere, they aren’t sure where he is. We want to do another memorial next year with the with Charles Masukapoe, some kind of monument for him too. He never come home from war. He’s one of our known veterans in World War One.”

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Nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com