Belgium honours Indigenous First World War veterans

Jeff Purdy embarked on a journey to Belgium to retrace the steps of his great-great-grandfather, Sam Glode, a Mi’kmaw soldier from Nova Scotia who served in the First World War. As he stood at the edge of a crater in Sint-Elooi, Belgium, believed to be the result of an explosive detonation in a tunnel dug by his ancestor, he expressed his awe at walking in the footsteps of his own flesh and blood.

Purdy was part of a Canadian delegation visiting Flanders Fields to commemorate Remembrance Day and Canada’s Indigenous Veterans Day. This year, Belgium is holding a national ceremony to honor the approximately 4,000 Indigenous soldiers who fought in the First World War. Veerle Viaene, co-ordinator of heritage for Visit Flanders, emphasized the importance of recognizing these soldiers who did not receive the recognition they deserved during and after the war.

The Canadian delegation, consisting of Indigenous people from Eastern and Western Canada, was invited by Visit Flanders to honor two veterans: Sam Glode and Alex Decoteau of Saskatchewan’s Red Pheasant Cree Nation. Glode, a member of the Royal Canadian Engineers No. 1 Canadian Tunnelling Company, played a crucial role in digging tunnels beneath German lines during the war.

The delegation was guided by Erwin Ureel, a former soldier with the Belgian army and a volunteer with the Passchendaele Society. Ureel spent over 50 hours researching Glode’s story, using war diaries and interviews to pinpoint his actions during the war. He led the group to significant battle sites like the Battle of Messines, Passchendaele, and Vimy Ridge, where Glode had fought.

During their tour, the group visited a crater left behind by an explosive detonation, which Glode had helped create. They also explored a field where Glode and 20 other men were caught in a tunnel collapse, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by soldiers during the war. Despite the challenges, Glode’s bravery earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

As the delegation walked through Ridge Wood Military Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium, they paid their respects to fallen soldiers, including Ojibwe soldier Pte. S. Comego. The emotional visit underscored the sacrifices made by Indigenous communities who answered the call to fight in a foreign land.

Purdy reflected on the legacy of his great-great-grandfather and the impact of his story being shared in Belgium. He emphasized the importance of honoring the Indigenous soldiers who served during the war, expressing gratitude for their contributions to peace and reconciliation. The delegation’s participation in the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, where they performed a smudging ceremony and the Mi’kmaq Honour Song, symbolized the cultural significance of their presence in Belgium.

The commemorative events in Belgium served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Indigenous soldiers like Sam Glode, whose spirit and bravery continue to be honored and remembered.