Nipissing First Nation War Memorial

Erected by members of the Nipissing First Nation, this memorial is dedicated to the band’s war dead and veterans of the First and Second World Wars.

The unveiling of the community’s cenotaph in Garden Village was held November 11, 2019. Captain Kim Munro walked with other soldiers in the procession on Remembrance Day. Leading the way were artist Dan Commanda, Nipissing First Nation Councillor Rick Stevens, and Elder Evelyn McLeod with Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare. The young students of Lady of Sorrows Elementary School sang O Canada in Anishinaabemowin. A flag song was sung with the big drum close to the Sacred Fire, heard crackling during the two minutes of silence. The cenotaph is dedicated to those who lost their lives, who served in any capacity, and those who continue to serve.

Speaking in the language and English on the valor of the men and women who volunteer for the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War, Nipissing First Nation Deputy Chief Muriel Sawyer unveiled the cenotaph. “The many sacrifices they made so that we may enjoy the freedom that we so often take for granted. They were not obligated to enlist in the world wars but they did so willingly, knowing the hardships they would encounter and endure. Many of our members did not return. And we owe them a debt of gratitude.” The men from Nipissing First Nation who were killed in action during World War II are Gerald Grenville Joseph Laronde; Michael Clarence Goulais; Ambrose Stevens; James Commanda; and Lawrence K. Whiteduck.

The cenotaph includes artwork by artist Dan Commanda of soaring eagles and two deer/wawashkesh and an epitaph poppy dreamcatcher. At the top of the monument are the words ‘Nipissing Remembers.’ Photos of four of the five soldiers killed in action from Nipissing First Nation are etched in the black marble, as are 80 names of soldiers who served in the First and Second World War and the Korean War. The crests of the Algonquin Regiment Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) badge; the Department of National Defence (DND); and the Canadian Aboriginal War Veterans and the DND/CAF Eagle Staff are featured.

Upgrades to the cenotaph in Garden Village started in fall 2019. The entire structure of the cenotaph, including the concrete base, will be removed starting the week of October 7th 2019. The existing plaque will be carefully removed and safely stored until its new display location is decided. The new granite cenotaph will be unveiled at the current site before Remembrance Day, 2019. This project is funded by Veterans Affairs Canada and the Nipissing First Nation Trust Fund.

Inscription

[plaque/plaque]

NIPISSING NATION REMEMBERS

KILLED IN ACTION

COMMANDA, MICHAEL JAMES, WWII
GOULAIS, MICHAEL CLARENCE, DIED AT DIEPPE AUG 19, 1942
OBTAGESIC, GERALD, DIED APRIL 19, 1942
STEVENS, A., WWII
WHITEDUCK, L.K., WWII

THOSE WHO SERVED

WWI

BEAUCAGE, GEORGE HENRY
CHEVRIER, F.Y.
COMMANDA, ALEX
COMMANDA, ANGUS
COMMANDA, DAVID
COMMANDA, GARY
COMMANDA, JOHN
COMMANDA, JOSEPH
COMMANDA, MOSES
COMMANDA, P.
COMMANDA, WILLIAM
COUCHIE, JOHN J.
COUCHIE, WILLIAM
GOULAIS, ALEX
GOULAIS, LOUIS JR.
LABRECQUE, ELIA G.
MARION, JOHN
SHABOGESIC (MCLEOD), LOUIS JOHN
SHABOGESIC (MCLEOD), NORMAN
SHABOGESIC (MCLEOD), PETER
SHABOGESIC (MCLEOD), WILLIAM P.
ST. DENIS, GEORGE

WWII

BEAUCAGE, JAMES
BEAUCAGE, GEORGE HENRY
BEAUCAGE, LEONA
BEAUCAGE, VICTOR ANGUS
CHEVRIER, F.Y.
CLEMENTS, FRANK
COMMANDA, FRANK
COMMANDA, ANGUS
COMMANDA, ANTOINE
COMMANDA, DAVID
COMMANDA, BERNARD
COMMANDA, EDWARD
COMMANDA, F.W.
COMMANDA, ISIDORE
COMMANDA, JOHN
COMMANDA, JOSEPH
COMMANDA, LEO (U.S.)
COMMANDA, M.R.R.
COMMANDA, MOSES
COMMANDA, PETER
COMMANDA, RENO
COUCHIE, FRANK
COUCHIE, GEORGE
COUCHIE, HARRY
COUCHIE, P.L.
COUCHIE, THOMAS
COUCHIE, WILFRIED
GOULAIS, ALBERT
GOULAIS, BENJAMIN
GOULAIS, CHARLES
GOULAIS, GEORGE
GOULAIS, HAROLD
GOULAIS, WALTER JOHN
GOULAIS, WILFRED
SHABOGESIC (MCLEOD), PETER
SHABOGESIC (MCLEOD), EMERY W.
SHABOGESIC (MCLEOD), WILLIAM
PENASSE, NED
SAWYER, DONALD
STEVENS, JAMES
STEVENS, LAURENT
STEVENS, LEO
STEVENS, ROBERT
WHITEDUCK, P.H.

Érigé par les membres de la Première Nation Nipissing, ce mémorial est dédié aux morts et aux anciens combattants de la bande des Première et Seconde Guerres mondiales.

Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.