3.3.4 Canada at War

How should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization?


When World War I was declared on August 4, 1914, Canada was a dominion of Great Britain. Canada could not declare war by herself but was at war automatically when Great Britain joined the fight.

Many Canadians were of British descent, and they were the first to volunteer to fight. Women were part of the war movement, such as Alberta native Marion Martin, second from the left in the photo, who made mortar shells in a British factory.

They still felt a strong sense of identity as British citizens and wanted to defend their home country.

By the end of the war, more than 660 000 Canadians had joined the military.

  • The Prime Minister of Canada, Robert Borden, believed that Canada would be seen as an equal nation rather than a colony if Canada sent many troops.

  • Canadian troops became known for their bravery, initiative, and self-reliance in war.

  • Canada's participation gave citizens a sense of identity and pride in being Canadian.
Women at a munitions factory, 1916
  • Canada earned respect from other nations, earning them a place at the Treaty of Versailles, which was the peace conference at the end of the war.

Canada's involvement in World War I was an important step towards
sovereignty
the authority of a country to make independent decisions concerning its own welfare

Recognition by other countries of a nation's sovereignty helps to legitimize that nation's independence in the world community.

Two things are important for a country to have sovereignty:

  1. independence in making its own decisions
  2. recognition by other countries of its independence
sovereignty.

Digging Deeper


See excellent material on Canada and World War I  here.


Native soldier
Photographer Unknown
National Archives of Canada
PA-007378
First Nations and WWI: As imperialism denied Canada full status as a nation, it denied Indigenous people full status as citizens of their own country.

They did not have the right to vote.

Through the
Indian Act 
a law in Canada passed in 1876 and still in effect (with revisions); officially entitled "An Act Respecting Indians"

It established the rights of registered Indians and Indian bands. It is administered by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Much of the Indian Act has to do with reserves and the lives of the people living there. Indian is understood to mean individuals of First Nations.

The Indian Act is printed in full on the website of the Department of Justice,
http://laws.justice.gc.ca
Indian Act, they were wards of the government.

Many
treaties
international agreements between representatives of two or more nations

For example, a First Nations chief signed on behalf of his tribe, and a representative of the British government signed on behalf of Canada.

Treaties are legal contracts because they establish legally binding terms to which both parties have agreed. If one party fails to meet its responsibilities, it can be charged under international law.

Treaties are used to set terms at the end of a war, such as the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I.
treaties stated that band members were exempt from military service.

More than 3 500 men, or 35% of the eligible Native population, enlisted and earned medals for valour in almost every major land battle. On some reserves, every eligible man volunteered to fight. Proportionally, far more Aboriginal men volunteered to fight in World War I than came from Canada at large.

The war proved that the fighting spirit of my tribe was not squelched through reservation life. When duty called, we were there, and when we were called forth to fight for the cause of civilization, our people showed all the bravery of our warriors of old.
Mike Mountain Horse, First World War veteran

Rights denied: When they returned home, many found they had lost their treaty rights. They were denied the veteran's benefits received by their fellow Canadians unless they would renounce their Indian status to apply for these benefits. After having fought overseas to defend the human rights and sovereignty of Allied nations abroad, Aboriginal veterans, their families, and their communities began to demand their full status as Canadian citizens.

Why did Aboriginal people go to war? Government policy was against them and they lost many benefits by joining the military. Why did they go?

  • The role of the warrior is an important one in First Nations cultures. First Nations warriors in Canada had a well-established history of fighting on the side of Great Britain.

  • The war gave young First Nations men a chance to act and make a difference, something that was often denied them in reserve life.

  • They believed that participation in the war would enhance their claims toward full citizenship and legal equality in peacetime.

Positive outcomes: For most native people, World War I was the first chance to visit another country. Some First Nations people became part of all-Indian battalions, and this was their first opportunity to meet other First Nations people. Their experiences gave them a sense of identity as Aboriginal people. As their battalions were merged with other Canadian and British regiments, they developed further a sense of who they were as Canadians. Friendships and alliances led to the formation of the first national Aboriginal organizations.