World War 1 (1914 - 18)

By Ron McHugh

Upon the announcement that Canada was to join in the war effort with Great Britain, a great many people from reserves all over the province made an effort to enlist. This was despite the fact that status Indians were exempt from compulsory military service. The lengths to which some would go was nothing short of amazing. Sometimes men would undertake journeys on foot, taking days at a time just to reach the nearest recruitment station. There were also a great many who were not even of legal age to enlist that joined the war effort, often lying about their age in order to fight overseas. This trend of underage recruits often meant for them to sneak out of the reserve at times when nobody would notice. This was due to the fact that the children who did manage to sneak away were attending residential schools and not permitted to leave their schooling, let alone the reserve itself.

There were many factors leading up to the enlistment of a number of soldiers. Economic hardship was a harsh reality on the reserve and enlistment paid a lot more money than farm life did. There was also the aspect of cultural influences. The pre -colonial reverence of warriors still existed among the people and was a value that was (and still is) deeply entrenched in native society. Also there were veterans who fought in the Boer war and the children of these vets often felt the need to fulfill their family's legacy of being a soldier
With the majority of able-bodied men fighting abroad, affairs on the reserve were left mostly to the elders and women. Critical aspects of reserve life such as farming and ranching were undertaken on top of the primary responsibilities that the women and children normally held. Although this way of life was a new one, people on the reserve seemed to adjust, as their well being depended on it. Most all of the women were mothers and all were anxious to have their men return from war … for some this did not happen.
On top of their everyday responsibilities, the people back home also made regular contributions to the war effort. The making of bandages and knitting of socks by the hundreds to be sent overseas was a common practice. On some reserves, Red Cross societies were formed. Some of these branches of the Red Cross contributed more per capita than most in the country. Some individuals would give all the money they had on hand to contribute. Some would even make round trips of up to 24 miles to sell a load of wood for just five dollars, giving every cent to the Red Cross.
World War II (1939 -1945)
For the second time in less than thirty years, Canada declared war on Germany. As with the First World War, the Saskatchewan native community was swift to react. Offers of both men and money poured in. Economic hardship was still a reality on the reserve and the incentive of a generous wage enticed many to join, but that was not the only motivating factor. Vets from the first war found themselves eager to join up as they had the fighting experience. Also, the children of World War I vets found themselves with an obligation to carry on a family legacy. This time around, it was the threat of Nazism that motivated the native community to join in the war effort. The existences of the treaties were threatened if Hitler's regime won the war, and this was something that the native community did not take lightly. In 1940, the government enacted mandatory conscription of everyone over the age of 16. Since Indians were seen as British subjects, they too were included in the legislation. The decision was met with fierce resistance from native communities throughout the country. They could not see the integrity or logic of conscription in one war but not the other. Indian bands across the province organized protest marches and sent petitions to Ottawa. This eventually got the governments attention, as the issue was raised in the House of Commons several times. By 1944 the War Cabinet Committee decided to exempt those Indians that signed the treaties promising them non-involvement in British conflicts.

During both World Wars, conditions at home seemed desperate. But even in the eyes of adversity, the people seemed to endure the hardships that faced them. Even back home, the families of the soldiers at war seemed to be going through a battle themselves … a battle to survive life without their loved ones.
By Ron McHugh