Remembrance Day Assembly

Artifact #1: Youtube Video - Remembrance Moments: Canada’s Indigenous Veterans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Z6RSKbrw0
TC: Nicole La Rosa

The artifact is a youtube video that recognizes the Indigenous Veterans who served in
World War 1, 2 and the Korean War. Canada’s Indigenous individuals experienced
discrimination during this time, because according to the Indian Act, they would lose their ‘Indian
Status’ if they were away from the reserve for more than 4 years, which meant they lost many
benefits. Therefore, these soldiers sacrificed everything in order to serve their nation.This can
be incorporated inside of the school assembly by a short blurb explaining what the Indigeneous
community did for the nation, and by playing the short two minute clip to recognize their
sacrifices and thank them for their enrolment in the war to serve their country.

Artifact #2:
http://www.thememoryproject.com/educator-resources/collections-and-highlights/3:black-canadi
an-veterans-of-the-second-world-war
TC: Zaviyth Nakonechny

The Memory Project aims to highlight the voices of Canadian Black Veterans by digitally
compiling artifacts, photographs, and interviews, to shed light on their lived experiences as
soldiers who had to overcome systemic barriers to represent Canada in the Second World War.
This artifact includes the interviews of four Canadian Black Veterans; Lester Brown, Everett
Cromwell, Percy Jackson and George Carter. This would be an excellent way to showcase the
stories of Canadian soldiers that are often overlooked and erased on Remembrance Day. I
believe these interviews could be incorporated in a school-wide assembly or in individual
classroom reflections, and would need to be followed up with rich and challenging discussions.
Students need to be prompted to think about who is being remembered on this day? Why are
certain stories being told and not others? What barriers did Black soldiers have to overcome to
be deemed “worthy” of representing their country in the war? What specific roles did Black
soldiers have to take-on because their white counterparts did not step up to do certain tasks?
These types are discussions are needed and well-overdo.

Artifact #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqWeS7For8g

Movie: The War Between Us (1994)
TC: Marie Louise Puevas
This movie artifact displays the racism and issues that happened on the homefront.
Specifically in World War 2 with the Japanese Internment camps. Although during remembrance
day assemblies we focus on the conflict and horrors on the battlefield, it is sometimes
overlooked that conflict happens on the homefront. Showing clips from the movie or showing the
entire movie can allow students to recognize the racism that happened due to the World War.
Some locations in Canada are known for being used for these internment camps and
showcasing them after the clips can also provide more context.
Artifact #4: Girls Need Not Apply- Memoir by Kelly Thompson: video interview
https://globalnews.ca/video/5788064/kelly-s-thompsons-new-memoir-girls-need-not-apply
TC: Victoria Taylor
Kelly Thompson talks about the sexism and other challenges that she faced while
serving in the military. She discusses how she struggled with the male-dominated environment
and how she struggled to feel like she belonged. Thompson also shares the importance of being
yourself in situations where you are being ridiculed or bullied. Her memoir ​Girls Need Not Apply
is about her journey with the Canadian Armed Forces (she enlisted at 18). She shares how she
worked to include her artistic identity into a world that seemed dark and lonely at times. Showing
clips of her interview would be an important tool to demonstrate to students that not only men
can/did serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Aritfact #5: Science Backs Churchill Hand In Bengal Famine Deaths

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAj_2b_-aQI
TC: Melina Portillo
This is a short video depicting the impact of war for civilians and especially the colonies
that were exploited and given less resources. Even though this part of the world wasn’t directly
affected by many battles it suffered through a famine called the Bengal Famine. Almost 3 million
Bengalis died in 1943. There have been many factors observed that could have caused this.
From the food supplies being prioritized to soldiers, to large scale exports of food from India. As
well as Churchill's denial of the famine and blaming Bengalis for creating the problem.

Artifact #6: Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker's Story

TC: Sasha (Alexandra) Lukashova

 This children’s book is a biography about a boy, Chester Nez who was taught growing
up that his native language and culture was not important to the society and English is what he
truly needs to know. Chester refused to give up his heritage and practiced privately. However,
during WWII, he was recruited to use his Navajo language to help create an unbreakable
military code. His language that was taught to forget, was needed to fight the war. This
children’s book highlights the suppression indigenous communities suffered, the importance of
heritage, and how the original Navajo code talker happened in our history. This book can be
read using a projector during the school assembly, but it would be very effective in a smaller
group setting, such as a classroom. It is important for students to have a deep, meaningful and
challenging discussion about the role of indigenous community serving and representing their
country during a war.