Métis Nation Saskatchewan President Glenn McCallum, center, with Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay Tuesday in Regina after the announcement (Lawrence MacAuley/Twitter)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Métis veterans

Local women happy to hear federal government apology

Sep 11, 2019 | 5:10 PM

A Prince Albert woman , and her mother who is a Métis veteran from World War II, are happy the Government of Canada has apologized for the treatment and lack of benefits for Métis veterans.

Linda Broome, whose mother Alice Samuel served in WWII, traveled to Regina Tuesday where Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAululay officially issued an apology at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall downtown.

Broome, who went to Regina with her husband for the occasion said she felt good about the apology.

“I was actually quite impressed with the presentation. I felt it was very sincere. There was a lot of people in attendance, Métis veterans along with their families,” she said.

Samuel, who is currently 93 years old was not able to make the trip to Regina for the event. Broome said along with her mother, her father, grandfather and uncles served the country during the world wars. This made it all the more important for her to be present as these family members have all passed away.

Court

Cries of racism fill courtroom as judge stays impaired driving charge in Saskatoon

10h ago

Community support

The Hunger Games return to Prince Albert

12h ago

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

20h ago

“I thought it was very important that someone from my family be there and witness this historic event and I was very glad that I did go,” she said.

Broome said Samuel decided to enlist in the army in 1943, following in the footsteps of her four brothers and her father. This was her father’s second stint in service as he had fought for Canada in World War I. Originally Samuel wanted to serve as a driver, however she found that role was not for her.

“She found out soon that she was too short. The criteria was you had to be a certain height and you had to have mechanical experience and so forth, well mom didn’t have that,” Broome said.

Eventually Samuel found work as an orderly clerk working in Calgary, Alta. after undergoing training in Vermillion, Alta. She stayed in the post until she was discharged from the army in 1945.

“She found that [work] very rewarding,” Broome said.

Alice Samuel in her uniform. (submitted photo/Linda Broome)

Not long after she left the army Samuel approached Veterans’ Affairs for benefits and was turned down. Broome said this was during a time when her mother really needed them. Eventually Samuel was able to secure benefits for her service, but Broome said her mother still remembers being turned down.

Mom gets the news

On her way back to Regina, Broome stopped in Duck Lake where her mother lives and told her about the apology. Broome said Samuel was happy to hear about the apology coming about after all the years.

“It’s just too bad that her brothers and her father and her husband couldn’t have witnessed all this too,” Broome said.

Along with the apology, veterans from WWII are being offered compensation from the federal government. The families of veterans who have passed on in the last three years are also eligible for compensation. Sherry McLennan, area director for the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan Western Region Two said they encourage people who are eligible to contact the regional office at 306-930-0988. After getting in touch with the local office, veterans’ information will be passed on to the Métis Minister for Veterans.

McLennan explained after surviving WWII veterans and eligible families are compensated there are further plans.

“After this first stage is done they’re going to move into a second stage which would be engaging with the veterans now, any veterans,” she said.

McLennan said the Métis Nation aims to set up a legacy fund along with potentially setting up scholarships and paying for families to travel to commemorations overseas.

—

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn