Embracing two paths

Indigenous. Woman. Veteran. These are all things Corporal (retired) Jocelyne Eastman has always been proud to embrace as her identity and in service to her country.

She knew Indigenous Veterans had historically been stripped of their identities during service, and she didn’t want that to happen to her. “All those important pieces that make an individual can sometimes be lost in service,” she said.

Eastman remembered her uncle’s story of his Navy service where he, like many others, was forced to choose between being Indigenous or military. Eastman vowed to never to make that choice. She embraced both paths and continues to help others do the same.

Starting her career

Eastman, who is of Ojibway-Cree descent, grew up in Fort McMurray, Alberta. She served with the Air Cadets in her hometown and liked it so much, she joined the Canadian Armed Forces at age 29 after she graduated college.

“It’s a community that is very, very different from a community outside of the military,” she said. Her career began in the Army reserves, where she worked as a Resource Management Support clerk.

Eastman served in the reserves from 2001 to 2012, when she transferred to the Regular Force with the Air Force where she served until her release. During her first posting in Esquimalt, she served on a Navy ship, which meant she had served in every branch of the military.

Indigenous culture

Wherever her career took her, Eastman always felt pride in her Indigeneity. Unfortunately, not every Indigenous military member felt the same pride.

Because of the mistaken assumption that Indigenous Veterans were “already taken care of,” they never received the same benefits that other Canadian service members did.

“They never investigated that because at the time, it was such a sore, sore spot.”

Today, the government has made significant progress in recognizing their role in the Canadian Armed Forces. But Eastman says many Indigenous Veterans remain unaware of the programs and benefits they’re entitled to. Decades of historical trauma prevented many of them from asking for help.

Advocating for Indigenous CAF members and Veterans

In 2010, Alberta awarded Eastman the prestigious Esquao award, in recognition of her work to advance Indigenous women in the military. That’s when she knew she had the power to inspire change for Indigenous service members. “I think that was the catalyst for me to really continue to push forward with the advocacy role,” she said.

At her base in Edmonton, she became involved with the Defense Indigenous Advisory Group and helped establish the base's first sweat lodge and the celebration of National Indigenous Day and Week. The Aboriginal Veterans Society of Alberta participated in and supported several of these projects.

“[They] really brought forward the awareness that is part of the process to change and evolution,” she said. For the rest of her time in the military, Eastman championed the rights of Indigenous military members.

Looking toward the future

In 2017, she was medically released from the Forces due to PTSD. She found it difficult to find the right person to access treatment options, only learning after her release she would have been able to continue working with proper care.

While Eastman feels more work needs to be done in providing service to Indigenous service members and Veterans, she says many improvements have been made. She feels there is better communication with Veterans and a heightened awareness of what’s available for help.

“I feel that it's a little easier for today's Veterans than even when I released.”

Today, she continues to advocate for Indigenous service members and Veterans. She says her work is not done just because she has hung up her uniform.

“Our jobs just look different, but we’re still serving.”

She encourages Indigenous recruits to hold onto their identity and advises Veterans to explore the programs and benefits offered to them by Veterans Affairs Canada. She said it’s okay to be Canadian and Indigenous, and there is value for embracing both paths.

“You can be both, and you should be proud to be both, because as an Indigenous person, you are still contributing to society in the most positive way.”

She also says it is important to recognize Indigenous service members and Veterans have all contributed to Canada as much as non-Indigenous Canadians have.

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Jocelyne Eastman is leaving her mark. She is one of our Canadian Armed Forces Veterans. Discover more stories.

The well-being of Canadian Veterans is at the heart of everything we do. As part of this, we recognize, honour and commemorate the service of all Canadian Veterans. Learn more about the services and benefits that are available to Veterans and their families.