(Turtle Island) The Two-Spirit Dry Lab worked with two (2) Indigenous and Two-Spirit Veterans for 2022 acknowledgement of Indigenous Veterans Day with the development of two social media shareable posts (see below).
The name of the campaign is titled, “WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL” and was shared with the community with the message of “Remembering and honoring all the Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQ+ heroes who returned & those who gave their lives in military service.”
Sharp Dopler is Sauk/Fox/Cherokee and Irish ancestry and is a non-binary, niizh-manitowag (Two-Spirit) person who is military veteran & 2SLGBT Purge survivor. “Serving the people is part of my Two-Spirit identity. I come from generations of warriors,” said Sharp Dopler.
Todd Ross is a member of Metis Nation of Ontario and served the Canadian Naval Combat Information Operator (1987-1990) on the HMCS Saskatchewan. “This Indigenous veterans day I am reminded of the call to action that so many First Nation, Metis and Inuit veterans have answered – and how they were often treated before, during and after service. I also think of the 2 spirit veterans, many who faced the additional challenges of the LGBT purge. Because of my experience with the LGBT Purge I did not consider myself a veteran until a fellow Metis veteran, the late Elder Joe Paquette, reached out and welcomed me – I will always be grateful for his kindness,” shared Ross. “I was honoured this morning to join other veterans at a pipe ceremony with Mi’kmaq Elder Jeannie Bartibogue as we paid tribute to all Indigenous veterans. On this day I think of Joe Paquette and others and their remarkable and selfless service.”