EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SUBMISSION:
CANADA'S ABORIGINAL WAR VETERANS
RECOMMENDATIONS
For all aboriginal veterans (those with North American Indian or Inuit ancestry), an ex gratia payment based on the War Service Grants Act as follows:
1) |
For periods of service in Canada only: |
$7,500.00 for each year, with portions of a year being included |
2) |
For periods of service in a theatre of actual war (as defined in the War Service Grants Act or the appropriate legislation): |
$15,000.00 for each year, with portions of a year being included |
NOTE: The above compensation is in lieu of benefits denied to all aboriginal veterans by reason of the inapplicability of legislation under what is known as the VETERANS CHARTER.
3) |
For war veterans whose ancestry entitles them to payment of a treaty, or for so-called "non-status" Indian veterans of similar heritage: |
A grant in the amount of $50,000.00 as additional compensation |
NOTE: Such veterans, identified as "Indian veterans," were subjected to additional discrimination in the Veterans' Land Act. In addition, there is evidence to indicate that, while on service, the wives and families of such "Indian veterans" were subject to prejudicial treatment on the part of employees of the then-Department of Indian Affairs.