Our Commitments to the Veteran Community

• Our department is committed to serving Red River Métis Veterans, active service members and their loved ones by preserving and honouring their legacies by documenting their stories, commemorating their achievements, and recognizing their sacrifices that have given us the freedoms we enjoy today.
• We are committed to ensuring that all Veterans and their support circles can access the services and supports they need, by identifying the challenges they face and remaining attentive to their individual and ongoing needs.
• To connect our Citizens with support, we will work collaboratively with both internal and external partners to provide wraparound services that will address the unique needs of our Veterans.
• Our Veterans and their families deserve to be recognized for their service to our country year-round, which is why our department is committed to educating our Citizens and the Canadian public about the contributions our Veterans made to defend our country.

Red River Métis Veterans Department Mandate

• Create a Red River Métis Veterans Archive to preserve the history of our heroes.
• Develop educational material to engage Canadians with the contributions of our proud Red River Métis Veterans.
• Establish strong relationships to support Legions and other Veteran-serving organizations.
• Manage and expand the Métis Veterans Legacy Program.

Indigenous Veterans Day

• Every year, on November 8^th, the RRMVD proudly hosts an Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony to honour the remarkable bravery and sacrifice of our Red River Métis Veterans, active service members and their families. Our citizens and special dignitaries in attendance held each of these ceremonies in very high regard.
• In 2022, we partnered with the Royal Canadian Aviation Museum of Western Canada to host our annual ceremony.
• In 2023, the RRMVD hosted the second annual Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony at and in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion St. Laurent Métis Branch #250.
• We recognize the importance of the essential services and advocacy that Royal Canadian Legions provide for our Veterans, which is why the RRMVD is committed to supporting and preserving our Legions and the welcoming communities they promote.

D-Day 80: A Red River Métis Expedition

Today is the 82^nd anniversary of D-Day, wherein the Allied Forces carried out the largest air and sea attack on German Forces, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe during WWII.

In 2024, the Manitoba Métis Federation sent a delegation of Red River Métis Youth, Veterans, and Cabinet Ministers to attend Canada's National ceremony commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day at the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy. Hosted by the Red River Métis Veterans Department, Red River Métis Youth learned about the sacrifices and contributions our Red River Métis Veterans made for our freedoms through intergenerational discussions while walking the same paths as our Ancestors who fought in France.

Visiting WWI and WWII historic sites and cemeteries where our fallen ancestors were laid to rest was an invaluable experience for all in attendance. We held two ceremonies at the Bény-sur-Mer and Bretteville-sur-Laize cemeteries to pay our respects and honour the Red River Métis soldiers who gave their lives for ours and for the French Citizens of Normandy - a people they didn't even know. The formative relationships and lasting impressions made among delegates would not have been possible without the financial support of the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP) fund. We thank DND and UPIP for their gracious support.

Additionally, with funding from the Métis Veterans Legacy Program, two Red River Métis businesses, Kizuk Productions and Sage Research and Consulting, travelled with the delegation to document the delegates' experiences. The MMF is grateful for the opportunity to share both the video and the report to showcase the lessons and experiences of those who attended and to create a legacy of remembrance for all those who have sacrificed for our freedoms.

It's Not Just History