(Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2013.)
With Remembrance Day approaching, a B.C. artist has designed a special poppy to honour Indigenous veterans.
Andy Everson of the K'ómoks First Nation shared this Northwest Coast-inspired print on his Facebook page on National Aboriginal Veterans Day to recognize Indigenous contributions to war efforts.
Indigenous tribes played a key role in the War of 1812, as Shawnee Chief Tecumseh led a series of attacks against U.S. forces.
Since 1994, Canadians have been celebrating National Aboriginal Veterans Day on Nov. 8 to "pay respect to Indigenous peoples for their contributions to our country's military efforts," the government said in a statement.
Approximately 4,000 First Nations men in Canada volunteered for World War I, in which over 300 died.
An estimated 20,000 First Nations people volunteered for World War II, in which over 200 died, according to NationTalk.
All this, despite the fact that First Nations were exempt from conscription and were not allowed to vote in Canadian elections at the time.
This is hardly the first time that Everson has drawn attention online for innovative prints. He previously put an indigenous spin on "Star Wars" characters as a way to criticize the B.C. Treaty Process.
He also created several artworks that became prominent online symbols of the Idle No More movement.
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