Debbie Eisan and Jeff Purdy reflect on Indigenous Veterans Day

Mainstreet Halifax

Today is Indigenous Veterans Day in Canada. It's a way to honour Indigenous veterans for their role in serving the country. A role that has been largely overlooked.

Earlier this week we spoke to Anishinaabekwe Debbie Eisan. She is leading a delegation to Belgium to commemorate fallen Indigenous veterans and Canadian service members. The group will take part in ceremonies leading up to and including Remembrance Day. Debbie is an Elder of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, and a 36 year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. Jeff Purdy is the great-great grandson of Sam Glode - who served with the Royal Canadian Engineers No. 1 Canadian Tunnelling Company during the First World War. Here's their conversation with host, Jeff Douglas.