Mr. Speaker, northerners are mourning the passing of respected elder Tom Eagle of Yellowknife.
I would like to focus on Tom's hard work on behalf of aboriginal veterans.
For 25 years, Tom served Canada as a proud member of the Canadian Forces in Germany and in Cyprus. In Tom's words, he joined “to serve my country and everything that our democratic principles stand for”.
In the two world wars, more than 7,000 aboriginal people served Canada and 500 gave their lives. These veterans were marginalized, never receiving the services and benefits provided to non-aboriginal veterans. They even lost their treaty status.
Tom worked to right these wrongs as chair of the First Nations Veterans Association, as a member of the National Round Table on First Nations Veterans Issues, as the chair of the NWT/Nunavut Aboriginal Veterans Association, and as an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion. In 2007, he was honoured with the Minister's Commendation.
Tom will be missed by his community, his wife and family, and all his friends across Canada.