The Canadian Armed Forces celebrated the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples who have served in the military yesterday.

SA国际影视传媒淲henever our country has been in need, Canada's Indigenous communities have made tremendous sacrifices,SA国际影视传媒� stated Lt.-Gen Jean-Marc Lanthier in a news release Thursday.

The World Wars and Korean War saw more than 12,000 Indigenous people serve in Canada and overseas.

One third of able-bodied Indigenous men enlisted to fight in the First World War and at least 50 decorations for bravery and feats of valour were awarded to Indigenous soldiers.

SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous women and men also participated in every major Canadian battle and campaign of the Second World War, from the Dieppe landings to the Normandy invasion,SA国际影视传媒� stated Lanthier.

Mary Greyeyes, from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan was the first recorded Indigenous woman to enlist in the Canadian Army in 1942, the release states.

Greyeyes served in the Canadian Women's Army Corps in Canada and Britain.

More than 200 Indigenous soldiers died in the Second World War. Some were snipers and scouts and others were involved in SA国际影视传媒渃landestine missions.SA国际影视传媒�

Code-talkers like Charles SA国际影视传媒淐heckerSA国际影视传媒� Tomkins, a Metis man from Alberta, transmitted secret messages in Cree.

SA国际影视传媒淭heir covert role has only in recent years begun to receive long overdue recognition,SA国际影视传媒� stated Lanthier.

The day also recognizes more recent contributions, including that of Cpl. Jason Funnell of the Haida Nation, who braved enemy fire to rescue soldiers trapped in a disabled vehicle.

Funnell earned the Military Medal of Valour from the Governor General of Canada for his service in Afghanistan in 2006.

Lanthier and Sgt. Maj. Stu Hartnell invite Canadians to honour Indigenous Veterans and their contributions to the armed forces, the release states.