FNUniv Honours Indigenous Veterans at Annual Remembrance Day Service

First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) honoured the courage, service and sacrifices of Indigenous veterans during its annual Remembrance Day Service on November 9, 2026, at the First Nations Veterans Memorial Tipi on its Regina campus.

Held under the theme “Gone but not Forgotten,” the ceremony brought together veterans, Elders, dignitaries, students, faculty, staff and community members to pay tribute to Indigenous veterans and recognize their contributions, including those who served their country while facing discrimination and barriers at home.

“Indigenous veterans have made extraordinary contributions through their service, often while facing discrimination and barriers at home,” said Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann, President of First Nations University of Canada. “Today, we honour their courage and sacrifices, and recognize our responsibility to ensure their stories and contributions are remembered and shared with future generations.”

The service began with a Pipe Ceremony led by Elder Sidney Kay of Kawacatoose First Nation, followed by the Grand Entry, an Honour Song performed by the Eagle Claw Singers and O Canada sung in the Dakota language by Chantel Redman of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation.

The ceremony also included the Last Post and Reveille, a moment of silence and the laying of wreaths in remembrance of those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Sergeant Christopher Bird of the Regina Royal Rifles Infantry served as Master of Ceremonies, while Justus Mills, Elders Representative with the FNUniv Regina Student Association, delivered a reading of In Flanders Fields.

Among the veterans in attendance were Loretta D. Starr-Goggin, who served more than 24 years in the United States Air Force; Erin Carrigan, who served more than 13 years in the United States Army; and Sergeant Harly Upton, who served six years in the United States Marine Corps.

Through its annual Remembrance Day Service, FNUniv continues to honour the legacy of Indigenous veterans and recognize the importance of preserving their stories, contributions and sacrifices for future generations.