Lesson two: Honouring Indigenous service through art
Objectives
Students will:
- learn about the contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous service members like Chief Joseph Dreaver;
- learn about various ways to remember and recognize those who have served in uniform; and
- explore the possibilities of commemorating Indigenous service members through art.
Resources
- Illustrated slideshow on Symbols of remembrance. (with embedded speakers notes)
- Infographic about the symbolism found in the painting Dreaver.
- Computers with Internet access or books for researching Indigenous service members.
- Art supplies or computers with graphic design software.
Activity
Step 1 - Exploring ways of commemorating military service and the meaning of the painting Dreaver
Briefly recap the information about Indigenous military service and Chief Joseph Dreaver that was explored in the previous lesson. If you have not completed that activity, some speaking points on the subject can be found here.
Explain that the class will explore some of the ways that we honour those who have served in uniform, including Indigenous people. Students will then have a chance to creatively honour these real life heroes themselves.
Play the slideshow. Afterwards, begin a class discussion about the importance of symbols in remembrance. Ceremonies and physical memorials are time-honoured ways we recognize and honour those who served. What local military monuments and remembrance events have your students seen firsthand?
Did you know?
Canada has many remarkable monuments honouring Indigenous service. They include the National War Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument and the Métis Veterans’ Memorial Monument. Many communities across the country, both large and small, also have their own special monuments. They include everything from monuments and sculptures to schools, murals, totem poles, tipis and even an airplane!
You can find out more about Indigenous military memorials across Canada by searching “Indigenous” in our Canadian military monuments database. There may even be one in your province or community!
Transition into a discussion about how art can be a powerful way to recognize and remember those who have served in uniform. In 2010, Indigenous artist Mike Holden honoured Chief Joseph Dreaver by creating a painting of him. Today, it is part of the Canadian War Museum’s permanent art collection.
This painting incorporates several important messages. Use our Dreaver infographic to explore the painting’s deep meaning and symbolism. Here are some key elements you will want to highlight:
- Mike Holden is a Salteaux Cree artist of the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan. He produced this painting as part of a series called Warriors Between Worlds. This set of paintings explores the complex relationship between Indigenous peoples and the countries they have both served for and fought against.
- Holden’s stylized portrait of Chief Joseph Dreaver is deeply symbolic.
- Chief Dreaver’s feathered headdress, military uniform and army medals represent his twin roles as Chief of the Mistawasis and an individual who served in the Canadian military.
- The Canadian flag represents Chief Dreaver’s personal patriotism at a time when Indigenous peoples lacked many rights.
- The heart at the centre of the uniform represents Chief Dreaver’s forgiveness of Canada. It symbolizes reconciliation of his complex personal relationship with the nation he served for but also struggled against.
For deeper learning
Discuss as a class artist Mike Holden’s description of his painting Dreaver:
“Dreaver celebrates war hero Chief Joseph Dreaver who also served as the chief of the Mistawasis Cree Band and was a lifetime member of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians. He served during the First World War and Second World War, a time when Indigenous peoples did not have the right to vote in the countries they lived in, and most were not legally allowed to travel from their reserves and reservations without a permit.
The great irony is that all warriors who served in either world war were fighting for the ‘freedom’ of others, while their children were being forcibly taken to residential/boarding schools and their own language and ceremonies were outlawed. Though military service at this time granted Indigenous peoples the same rights as other citizens, it also meant they lost their cultural status.”
Step 2 – Preparation and research
Students will be creating their own works of art to honour Indigenous service members.
First, they must decide who they will be highlighting. Will it be Chief Dreaver? Will it be someone from your region, province or hometown? They can choose any First Nations, Métis or Inuit service person from across Canada’s military history. Information on a number of Indigenous service members can be found in the Indigenous Soldiers, Foreign Battlefields historical booklet and in Veterans Affairs Canada’s Indigenous Veterans web feature. Students can also search online for other possible people to honour with their project.
Need some inspiration? Check out these interesting stories of Indigenous service:
Students can decide what form their artwork will take, such as a poster, painting, illustration or even a clay sculpture. They will first need to research the service member they’ll be creatively recognizing and remembering. Start by gathering some facts about the person, such as their hometown, date of birth and when/where they served. Take note of interesting facts or stories about their military service or their civilian life. This is also the time to gather photos of the person to use for reference during the creative process.
Step 3 – Art activity
It’s time to get creative! Students can create physical or digital pieces. Select one style or format for your class or give them the freedom to choose their own medium.
To connect to other areas of the curriculum, consider challenging students to incorporate the Indigenous language of their subject’s community into their work. They could also use an Indigenous language that is spoken in your school’s own town, province or region. This is also an excellent opportunity to connect with Indigenous people or communities in your region. Perhaps you could invite an Indigenous artist, Veteran or elder to talk to your class.
When their artwork is complete, students can share their creations and the story of the person they were honouring with one another. You could even have a school art exhibition to highlight their work. Also consider sending pictures of students’ artwork to Veterans Affairs Canada at education@veterans.gc.ca. Maybe we can highlight their creations on our social media channels!
Close the activity by discussing what the students learned. Explore questions that may have emerged during the research or creative process. Talk about the importance of honouring and thanking everyone who has served across Canada’s military history.
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