Special statement from President Chartrand on the passing of Métis Veteran Paul DeLorme

March 25, 2022

Winnipeg, MB, in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis - Today, on behalf of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), which is the National Government of the Red River Métis, also known as the Manitoba Métis, we mourn the loss of World War II Veteran Paul DeLorme, who left this world on March 24^th at the age of 102.

Veteran DeLorme was the first Veteran we honoured through the Métis Veteran's Legacy Program (MVLP) in 2019. I had the honour of travelling to Essex in the United Kingdom to visit with Veteran Delorme, where he settled after the war. It was my privilege to pay my respects, deliver his recognition payment and thank him for his service, as well as share the apology delivered by Canada for our country's treatment of Métis Veterans following World War II.

While I was there, he shared some of his experiences in the theatre of war.

Veteran DeLorme, who served with the South Saskatchewan Regiment, participated in the failed raid on Dieppe France on August 19, 1942. It was a battle that paved the way for the D-Day landings in 1944 but at an enormous cost, with nearly 3,000 Canadians either killed or taken prisoner on the beach.

Veteran DeLorme was one of the more than 1,900 Canadians captured at Dieppe - the largest group taken in Canadian war history. Wounded by a grenade, he was taken by rail to a POW camp in Germany where he was put to work in a salt mine and later a stone quarry. He tried to escape twice. Two other Canadians who tried to escape the camp were shot dead.

Veteran Delorme later wrote in a book about his experience, A Métis Man Goes to War, which showed not only his resilience but his pride in being Métis.

Since 2019, when we signed the agreement for the World War II veterans, we have found 30 living veterans to recognize and make good on the promises that were made by Canada 71 years ago to Métis veterans. Veteran DeLorme is the 22nd of the 30 World War II Métis Veterans to pass away after being identified. This highlights the urgency of finding our remaining World War II Veterans, so they can hear about the apology and receive recognition for their contributions to defending democracy across the globe.

On behalf of the MMF Cabinet and staff, and all citizens of the Red River Métis Nation, I offer our heartfelt condolences to Veteran DeLorme's family for their loss.

Our veterans remain our heroes - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

30-

Believe in Yourself; Believe in Métis.

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is the democratic government for the Manitoba Métis, also known as the Red River Métis, the origin and core of the Métis Nation. The Manitoba Métis are Canada's Negotiating Partners in Confederation and the Founders of the Province of Manitoba.

For more information, media may contact:
Kat Patenaude
Media Relations Advisor
Manitoba Métis Federation
204-801-7710
Kat.Patenaude@mmf.mb.ca

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