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By Derek Craddock

INDIGENOUS VETERANS DAY

Fly-past over Beardy’s & Okemasis rescheduled due to in-flight emergency

Nov 8, 2021 | 2:00 PM

A CF-18 Hornet that was scheduled to fly over a nearby First Nation community Monday had to cancel at the last minute.

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was supposed to send the plane over Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation around 11:00 a.m.

Unfortunately, not long before the fly-past was to take place, the pilot declared an in-flight emergency and quickly returned to CFB Cold Lake. Thankfully, the pilot is ok, and the fly-past has been rescheduled for Remembrance Day.

Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation requested the fly-past to commemorate National Indigenous Veterans Day.

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“It’s something that we are honoured to support because like all veterans, Indigenous veterans made important contributions and sacrifices and it’s important that we recognize and honour that,” said Public Affairs Officer with the Canadian Forces, David Lavallee.

Lavallee said this isn’t the only fly-past requested by a First Nation community as two more are scheduled to happen soon in Manitoba.

The federal government marked National Indigenous Veterans Day by lowering flags to half-mast on all federal buildings.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement Monday morning marking the day and calling on Canadians to honour Indigenous veterans and remember those who lost their lives.

“On this day, we recognize Indigenous women and men from across this land who have a proud tradition of military service,” the statement reads. “They have risked their lives to protect and defend our shared values and fundamental freedoms and the liberty of our partners and allies. From the War of 1812 through the two World Wars and the Korean War, to the recent conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan, they have strived to help bring peace and stability to some of the most unstable places in the world.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @pa_craddock