The Great Equalizer

Abstract

Over 7300 Métis men and women who contributed to Canada’s war efforts from the First World War to the present day, are commemorated at the Métis Veterans Memorial Monument in Batoche in Saskatchewan. Specifically, during the Second World War Métis volunteers enjoyed the equalizing effects of a nation working together for a common cause. Unfortunately, their efforts were largely ignored after the war when a return to daily life also meant a return to racial discrimination. The monument at Batoche serves as a celebration of the Métis contribution to Canadian and world history, adding to a site already rich in historical and cultural significance.