George Hadden, Tommy Fillardeau, Bob Brown and James Hadden in uniform outside of the Edal Cafe. (Photo: Langley Centennial Museum)
Although they had few rights, Indigenous men in Canada stepped forward in significant numbers to serve during the Great War, World War II and the Korean War. Every eligible man between the age of 20 and 35 from Okanagan Head of the Lake Band enlisted. George McLean, a Douglas Lake cowboy, returned home a decorated hero after single-handedly killing 19 of the enemy and capturing 40 others. Roy Cromarty (aka Sam Garner) was a Sto:lo man who lost his life in the fall of 1917. Locally, Thomas “Tommy” Fillardeau, of mixed Métis/Kwantlen heritage, served during the Second World War. (His great-grandfather worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Langley.) The Langley Centennial Museum’s digital archive includes the above photo, and a very brief biographical sketch of Tommy:
“Thomas “Tommy” Fillardeau was a fisherman by trade. He was born October 10, 1922 to George Fillardeau and Teresa Thompson. He was raised on the Kwantlen reserve on McMillan Island. He served with the Irish Fusiliers in World War Two. On October 29, 1973 he was walking down what is now Glover road on McMillan Island when he was hit by a car and died. “
A Veterans Pole Memorial at Coqualeeza in Chilliwack highlights the names of Sto:lo soldiers who served, beginning with the Boer War, some had connections to Langley: William & George Allard (WW I) Ovid and Lawrence Allard, James Fidele, James Fillardeau, Earl Fillardeau, Thomas Fillardeau, and Albert Wicks (WW II). Not all soldiers of mixed heritage identified as being Indigenous at a time when racist attitudes prevailed. Wilfred (Stittum) Gabriel was a member of the Kwantlen Band who also served during the Second World War and is buried in the Fort Langley Cemetery’s military section. His name appears on the Aboriginal Veterans Tribute Honour List HERE.
When Indigenous soldiers returned home they were treated as second class citizens: they couldn’t vote in federal or provincial elections, were denied assistance under the War Veterans Allowance Act (education, employment and land grants), while others lost their Indian status because they had been away from their reserve for 4 years. It wasn’t until 1995 that Indigenous veterans were officially recognized as a group. We honour their memory, and all men and women who sacrificed for Canada.