Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ms. Randi Susanne Gage is a Vietnam-era Veteran who was an Armour Supply Specialist in the United States Army. Ms. Gage has been a constant advocate for the rights and health of Aboriginal Veterans and all Veterans in an effort to ensure they receive the supports they deserve. Ms. Gage was the founding secretary/treasurer of the Manitoba Aboriginal Veterans Association on August 8, 1992. Later in 1992, Aboriginal Veterans from across Canada gathered in Ottawa to establish the National Aboriginal Veterans Association (NAVA) and Ms. Gage was elected as the charter vice-president. Along with the President of NAVA, she had the honour of placing the First Remembrance Day Wreath at the National War Memorial. With her election to the NAVA executive, Ms. Gage travelled extensively across Canada, setting up provincial groups, attending meetings and, twice, presenting the struggles of Aboriginal Veterans to the Senate of Canada. Also established at the first meetings of the NAVA in 1992, was the need to designate a special day of recognition for Aboriginal Veterans. Ms. Gage worked tirelessly to make this a reality and, on November 8, 1993, the first Aboriginal Veterans Day took place across Canada. In 1994, the day was officially recognized by the Government of Manitoba. In 2008, in Riverton Manitoba, Ms. Gage was invited to help The Riverton & District Friendship Centre develop an event for Aboriginal Veterans Day. The event, which started off with twenty people, has now grown to over one hundred attendees every year. In 2011, Ms. Gage began working to have a memorial built for local Riverton Veterans, dedicated to Aboriginal Veterans and in remembrance of all Veterans. Through her hard work, this project has now grown to a $1.2 million memorial that is set to be completed in 2017.