National Aboriginal Veterans Monument Activity

Indigenous (or Aboriginal) Peoples of Canada are the people (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) whose ancestors lived here for thousands of years before the first explorers arrived from Europe. Veterans are the brave people who have served in the military.

There are many Indigenous Veterans who have helped protect peace and freedom over the years. To honour them, the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument was unveiled in Ottawa in 2001. It has a large eagle on top, four men and women from different Indigenous groups in the middle and sculptures of a grizzly bear, a caribou, a wolf and a bison around the outside. These animals have special symbolism in many Indigenous cultures.

What colours do you think this monument should be? Colour the picture and see how your ideas look!

What would a monument to brave Indigenous Veterans look like if you were the one who designed it? What kind of animals and symbols would you use? Here is your big chance! Why don’t you take a sheet of paper and design, draw and colour your own monument to these Indigenous heroes.