“A Life-Changing Experience” — Indigenous СƵdents Honour Indigenous Veterans in Northern France
Six Wabanaki СƵdents traveled to Northern France where they deepened their understanding of history by honouring Indigenous veterans across historic battle grounds.
The two-week immersive field experience “War and the Canadian Experience: History Education Program” gave the opportunity for Wabanaki students to perform traditional singing, dancing, and ceremony as part of collective healing.
Fourth-year History СƵdent Savannah Simon of Natoaganeg First Nation said the trip helped her broaden her horizons, step outside of her comfort zone, and immerse herself in history.
“This experiential learning opportunity was one of the most impactful two weeks of my undergraduate experience,” she said.
“Chronologically following the footsteps of Canadian battalions, walking through revived cities, and having the hard conversations about ethical matters was challenging but necessary for understanding the significance of every element of war.”
The trip also left second-year Criminology СƵdent Shane Boyce of Potlotek First Nation with a new perspective.
“You can learn about it, watch videos, and see pictures all you want, but visiting the sites that used to be in ruins, where the towns were destroyed and covered in mud, was something else,” he said.
“It deepened my knowledge in the best ways possible.”
The soldier biographies, gathered through archival research, gave students the chance to honour the fallen while learning invaluable lessons about sacrifice, leadership, and courage. Each student was given the opportunity to honour a soldier.
For Simon, paying tribute to a fallen soldier from her own community was especially profound.
“For many Indigenous men, they never had the chance to say a final ‘see you later and I love you’ (nmultis aq kesalul). I wasn’t just sharing a biography but also holding a ceremony to honour his life and spirit in a way that was meaningful to his culture and homeland,” she said.
The group also held a ceremony for Penobscot Elder and D-Day veteran Charles Shay, who landed on Omaha Beach and recently turned 100.
Chelsea Harris-Carr, Future Wabanaki Coordinator, described the trip as "life-changing" for herself, the students, and community.
“Our veterans are often forgotten in commemoration, and it's only in the last few years that they have been mentioned after decades of service,” she said.
“The trip embodied experiential learning and two-eyed seeing — combining Indigenous knowledge with Western perspectives for a holistic view for our students.”
СƵdent Participants
Tanner Augustine (BA '26), Savannah Simon (BA '25), Tashina Hachey (BA '24, MSW '26), Mackenzie Metallic (BA '26), Emily Storey (BA '26), and Shane Boyce (BA '27).
Organizers
The trip was organized by the Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society at UNB with Indigenous Perspectives provided by Chelsea Harris-Carr, Future Wabanaki Coordinator, Elder Shirley Sewell, facilitated alongside UNB’s Dr. Cindy Brown, Dr. Lee Windsor, FHS’s Tripp Lewis, and Greg Peters.
Pictured: Chelsea Harris-Carr, Future Wabanaki Coordinator, and СƵdents Mackenzie Metallic and Tashina Hachey at Beaumont-Hammel singing for the Mi'kmaw soldiers that died there, including Private Robert Hann of Trout River Newfoundland.