THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
A Second World War veteran, possibly Fort Smith's last, has passed away.
Edward (Eddy) Powder, a veteran of the Second World War, died earlier this month in Fort Smith. - photo courtesy of the Dene Nation |
Edward (Eddy) Powder, an indigenous elder, died peacefully with family members at his side Feb. 6 at the Fort Smith Health Centre.
He was 90 years old.
Powder served in the Second World War as a private in the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces Reserve, escorting prisoners of war in the areas of Wainwright, Alta., Dundurn, Sask., and Petawawa, Ont.
His family is proud of that service, said his son Floyd Powder of Yellowknife.
"Anybody that stands up and volunteers to serve their country is outstanding," he said. "And even during that time, although aboriginal Canadians didn't need to serve Canada, a lot of aboriginal people did sign up and fought for the interests of the country."
Powder explained his father had to wait a while to join the armed forces because his mother originally refused to sign the necessary papers.
"Because he was aboriginal, he needed to have parental consent," he said. "So he didn't get permission until finally she relented and signed it."
Powder said his father was hoping to go overseas.
"But by the time he had consent, it was at the end of the Second World War and that was why he was tasked with just doing the prisoner escorts and such," he said.
In fact, Powder noted one of his uncles recalled after the war ended in Europe, his father volunteered to fight in the Pacific theatre, but the war also ended there shortly afterwards.
Powder said his father's service inspired him to join the Canadian Armed Forces as well and he served from 1981 until 2013.
Eddy Powder was born Jan. 7, 1925, in Camsell Portage, Sask. and later attended the Holy Angels Indian Residential School in Fort Chipewyan, Alta.
He later moved to Fort Smith to work on summer supply barges and other boats along the Slave River and Mackenzie River. In the late 1950s he secured work in the forestry service in Fort Smith.
Powder, a Metis of Cree descent, was one of 18 children, and is survived by six children of his own.
Dene Nation paid tribute to the late veteran by releasing a statement in celebration of his life.
"It takes a great commitment to enlist oneself and be ready to serve in a war, especially when there is no guarantee of returning home," stated Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus.
He noted that, by enlisting, Powder had an opportunity to open up his world.
"His passing reminds us of those who dedicated their lives to ensure we have a safe and secure future for all people in the country," he stated. "For this, we honour him and recognize his bravery, courage and strength. Certainly his family must be proud of his achievements."
Ken Hudson, the president of the Fort Smith Metis Council, said Eddy Powder was a person that people looked up to and respected.
"We lost one of our Metis leaders in the community," said Hudson.
In 1997, Eddy Powder suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak. Despite that, he kept in touch with other Northern veterans throughout the years.
On Feb. 11, the day of the funeral, the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 239, in Fort Smith flew the Canadian flag at half-mast.
During the service, attended by about 150 people at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Fort Smith, members of the Royal Canadian Legion paid tribute by laying a wreath, requesting a minute of silence and playing military trumpet call, The Last Post, a song of commemoration for soldiers who have died.
"It was a touching part of the funeral service," said Hudson. "It was very well done."
In addition to his military service, Eddy Powder was once part of a caribou management board and an advisor to both a former minister of Environment and Natural Resources and a former premier of the NWT.
"He had some influence on the higher political level," said Powder, adding his father was also inducted into the Order of the Sash by the Northwest Territory Metis Nation.
