November 8 marks National Aboriginal Veterans Day (Photo: The Canadian Press)

By Justin Goulet

No matter how seemingly small, all war contributions important to remember

Nov 8, 2021 | 5:45 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – “Communities in the rural areas, at the time were smaller and a portion are still small. However, their contributions are no less [and] the efforts made were just as important.”

That’s from Glenn Miller of the Lethbridge Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4. LNN asked him about the contributions made during wars of the past by rural communities.

Miller noted that not only did citizens of rural areas across southern Alberta aid in the field of battle, but “while [soldiers] were away at war, the crops still had to be planted and harvested.”

READ MORE: POWs: Inside Lethbridge and southern Alberta’s Prisoner of War camps

Work in the agricultural field during war time was critically important to keeping everyone fed, Miller remarked.

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He said, “what’s unique within the Lethbridge area, but it did happen across other spots in Canada, is that the German prisoners of war were basically used in the agriculture industry, such as sugar beets.”

“Without that effort, it really would have a larger impact, not only for the troops overseas but also for the Canadians here in Canada, probably not having as much [food supplies], even though they were rationed.”

As Remembrance Day approaches, Miller told LNN that “it’s important to recognize the rural small areas” and “it’s important to recognize those small contributions and large contributions from the rural areas.”

INDIGENOUS VETERANS

Miller added that it’s of utmost importance to honour the sacrifices and recognize the dedication of Indigenous veterans as well.

“There’s a case where a fellow canoed hundreds and hundreds of miles just to trek across northern Canada to join [the military]. There’s some who joined who couldn’t even speak English, but they wanted to do their [part]. They excelled in certain areas such as scouting and sniping.”

He said some Indigenous warriors would hunt, fish and send over meat to soldiers and fundraise to help. As well, property northeast of Standoff was used as a shooting and bombing practice range from 1941 to 1945.

Miller noted that “the first Indigenous warrior from the Blood Tribe [was] Albert Mountain Horse.”

“He was actually an officer before the war. He actually reverted to become a driver in order to enlist and suffered a number of gas attacks over the course of the war [and] was actually sent back to Canada to convalesce and he contracted another disease just getting off the ship in Quebec, and then died in Quebec. So, he never made it home.”

Mountain Horse’s brothers were Mike Mountain Horse and Joe, who Miller said enlisted to avenge the death of Albert. Today, Lethbridge residents may recognize the Mountain Horse name from Mike Mountain Horse School on the west side of the city.

Miller added that, “Mike Mountain Horse had a calf robe created to tell his World War One stories and currently that’s at the military museum in Calgary. I actually saw that many years ago in Belgium displaying and showcasing international contributions from around the world for World War One.”

In addition to Remembrance Day being on November 11, November 8 marks National Aboriginal Veterans Day, which was inaugurated in Winnipeg in 1994.

READ MORE: Celebrating the efforts of Indigenous veterans

Miller also noted the story of Henry Norwest, a distinguished sniper in World War One. Miller said years ago, he purchased a replica of a medal won by Norwest that had gone missing. He gave the copy to the veteran’s family.

“It was fortuitous because the great-granddaughter received the medals on behalf of the family, but her daughter was going over the France to see his grave a month later, so again, [that’s] just a way of honouring their contribution.”

More on Indigenous veterans is available here.