Indigenous Veterans Day Activities – Remembrance Day Poppy Craft

Looking for meaningful Indigenous Veterans Day activities for your classroom? This comprehensive resource helps students learn about 10 Indigenous Canadian Veterans through biographies, reflection questions, an interactive poppy writing craft and a bonus recognition project.

The resource can be used for Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8 or as part of your Remembrance Day activities in Canada. Students learn about the service, sacrifices and lasting contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Veterans while also examining the discrimination many experienced during and after their military service.

Learn About Indigenous Veterans Day

Indigenous Veterans Day is observed across Canada on November 8. It honours the military service and sacrifices of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Veterans.

Many Indigenous Veterans served while facing discrimination at home. After returning from military service, some were denied equal access to benefits, land and reintegration support provided to non-Indigenous Veterans.

This lesson helps students understand why Indigenous Veterans Day is recognized separately while connecting naturally to broader Remembrance Day learning.

Indigenous Veterans Day Activities Include

❤︎ Indigenous Veterans Day lesson
❤︎ Biographies of 10 Indigenous Canadian Veterans
❤︎ Interactive poppy writing craft
❤︎ Original artwork created by a First Nations educator
❤︎ Indigenous Veteran reflection questions
❤︎ “Recognize an Indigenous Veteran” bonus project
❤︎ Remembrance Day bulletin board pieces
❤︎ Indigenous Veterans Day classroom display materials

Interactive Remembrance Day Poppy Craft

After learning about Indigenous Veterans, students complete a hands-on Remembrance Day poppy craft featuring original artwork by West Coast Indigenous Teacher.

The interactive writing craft gives students space to share what they learned, reflect on the contributions of Indigenous Veterans and recognize why their stories deserve to be remembered.

Completed poppies can be displayed with the included bulletin board pieces for Indigenous Veterans Day, Remembrance Day or throughout November.

Perfect For

❤︎ Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8
❤︎ Remembrance Day in Canada
❤︎ Canadian history and social studies
❤︎ Indigenous education
❤︎ Upper-elementary classrooms
❤︎ Middle and high school students
❤︎ November classroom activities
❤︎ Remembrance Day bulletin boards
❤︎ Truth and Reconciliation learning

These Indigenous Veterans Day activities help teachers move beyond a general Remembrance Day lesson and ensure that the service, sacrifices and experiences of Indigenous Canadian Veterans are included in classroom learning.

All artwork included in this product is an original creation by West Coast Indigenous Teacher and is copyrighted.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The resources provided here are designed to support the teaching of Indigenous cultures, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. It is important to recognize that these communities are not monolithic; beliefs, traditions, and practices vary greatly from Nation to Nation, and even from community to community. The content shared in these materials reflects my own lived experience and understanding of Indigenous cultures, but it does not encompass the full diversity or richness of these traditions.

I encourage educators to approach these resources with respect, sensitivity, and openness to learning. When possible, please engage with local Indigenous communities or cultural experts to ensure that the information shared is accurate and culturally appropriate for the specific Nations or groups you are teaching about.

These resources are intended to foster understanding and appreciation for Indigenous people.