The Empire Club of Canada
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Join us on November 8th in honouring Indigenous veterans, as we pay tribute to their contributions to Canada’s military history. This event will feature two distinguished speakers who will shed light on the remarkable journeys of veterans and their enduring impact on our nation.
Tim O’Loan, a Sahtu Dene and military veteran, became an advisor to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, working closely with Hon. Murray Sinclair. Today, Tim is the founder of the Reconciliation Speakers Bureau, the first of its kind in Canada.
John Moses, Director, Repatriation and Indigenous Relations, Canadian Museum of History, will take us on a historical journey, exploring the theme of Indigenous contributions to Canada’s military heritage. His presentation will delve into the wartime service of his extended family members from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory near Brantford, Ontario. This moving narrative showcases the courage and resilience of Indigenous veterans who played a pivotal role in Canada’s military history.
Join us virtually for reflection and commemoration as we honour the invaluable contributions of Indigenous veterans. This event is an opportunity to celebrate their legacy and recognize the ongoing efforts towards reconciliation in Canada.
John Moses is a member of the Delaware and Upper Mohawk bands from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory near Brantford, Ontario, Canada. The son, grandson and great grandson of residential school survivors, he is currently the Director for Repatriation and Indigenous Relations at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, QC. He holds a diploma of applied arts in museum technology; a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies; a master’s degree in Canadian studies; and he has completed some PhD work (ABD) in cultural mediations. A Canadian Armed Forces veteran of the Communicator Research Operator 291 trade, he was awarded the Special Service Medal for operations at Canadian Forces Station Alert, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut Territory.
I would be pleased to share, entitled “Beyond the Restless Wave: Six Nations Troops in Europe During the World Wars”. The presentation time is about 20 minutes. This includes a general historical introduction to the theme of Indigenous contributions to Canada’s military history and heritage, but it focuses in particular on the wartime service of some of my own extended family members over multiple generations, from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory near Brantford, ON.
Tim O’Loan, a Sahtu Dene from the NWT and a proud veteran having served 10 years (1983-1993) in the military before starting his undergraduate degree in Political Science and his professional career. From 1998-2006, Tim was a Land Claims and Self Government Negotiator for the Government of the NWT. In 2010, Tim was asked to join the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) in 2010 as the Advisor to the TRC Chair, Hon. Murray Sinclair.
Tim recently founded the first and only national level Speakers Bureau solely dedicated to Reconciliation- the Reconciliation Speakers Bureau. Now a Knowledge Keeper and a nationally known inspiring speaker, Tim has been presenting to Canadians for over a decade. As a proud veteran, intergenerational and 60’s scoop survivor, Tim continues to share this unique perspective across Canada.