My grandparents' story was always one of resilience and bravery. After World War I, my grandfather was granted land in Canada as part of the settlement plan for war veterans. He made the courageous decision to leave everything behind in England, and bring his young family to a new land - possibly never to see his parents, friends, and the familiar English countryside again. My mother was only six years old when they made the journey, celebrating her birthday on the steamship across the Atlantic. (my mother in the front row of the photo on board the SS Montrose)
They arrived by train to Okotoks, Alberta, to snow deeper than usual, with no proper infrastructure. Their fridge was a hole in the ground, and they started from scratch to build a dairy, serving the local community. My mother rode her horse to school, feeding it during breaks. The family's hard work and determination became stories I was proud to tell. They embodied resilience, from my mother being scouted for the Commonwealth Games, to my grandfather’s military service and their survival through tough times.
But recently, that pride became mixed with unease. As conversations about colonialism and Indigenous land rights grew, I began to wonder about the land my grandfather was granted. I didn’t have the documents, but I realized that at some point, that land had belonged to Indigenous Peoples. What made me uncomfortable was the question: were Indigenous veterans, who also fought in World War I, given the same rights as my grandfather?
The more I researched, the more troubling the truth became. While my grandfather received land as part of the post-war settlement, Indigenous veterans were largely excluded from this opportunity. Despite their service and sacrifice, they returned to a country that denied them the same privileges granted to others. The land that symbolized hope and a new beginning for my family was withheld from those who had fought just as bravely.
It was a sobering realization. I had been so proud of my grandparents' story, their courage in the face of so many challenges. But now, I couldn't ignore the injustice faced by Indigenous veterans, whose contributions were marginalized. Their stories deserve to be told alongside those of settlers like my grandfather, so that we can understand the full complexity of our history.
This revelation does not diminish my grandparents' bravery or resilience. Rather, it highlights that their story is part of a larger, more complex narrative—one that encompasses both the opportunities they received and the opportunities denied to others. I believe it is our responsibility to research our history as immigrants and fully understand what occurred in the past. As we honor the sacrifices made during World War I, we must also acknowledge the stories of those whose heroism has been overlooked, ensuring their legacy is recognized and honored.