Approximately 4,000 Canadian Aboriginals left their homes and families
to help fight an international war that raged in Europe. One in three, was
the proportion of able-bodied Canadian Indian men, of age to serve,
who enlisted during the First World War. Many Natives lived in isolated
areas of the country and the war was beyond anything they could
have imagined.

The Maples for Vimy project:

The main Vimy Ridge Centennial Living Memorials of Honour in France will see up to 100  Scouts, Cadets and Leaders travel to France to plant 500 premium quality maple trees on  Vimy Ridge and the communities surrounding the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. The  trees will be arranged into “Living Memorials of Honour™” representing each of the four (4)  Divisions in the Canadian Corps, and one (1) representing the units attached to the  Canadian Corps.  The trees are a variety of Maple trees that represent the diverse society  and culture of Canada. Red (acer ruburm Fairview Flame’) and Silver Maples  (acer saccharinum ‘pyramidale’) represent the original trees and peoples of Canada. The  Regal Petticoat Maple (acer pseudoplatanus ‘tunpetti’), a Canadian cultivar of the Sycamore  Maple whose ancestry from hundreds of years ago lies in Europe and Asia, represents those  who came to Canada and created something new. The mix of species represents the cultural  mosaic which makes up our country.The trees will be planted on sites that are identified as  having been the areas where the Canadians under the leadership of General Sir Arthur Currie were deployed while leading up to the battle as well  as the actual battle grounds. In France, the local municipal and forestry officials have approved the program (documents  available on request) and are already making preparations to receive the Canadian Scouts  and First Nation’s Cadets. How: The trees are already being grown in France by two of France’s leading plant propagators  Andre Briant Jeunes Plantes (propagator) and Pepiniere Jean Huchet (finisher). The tree  planting will follow the highly successful methodology developed in London Ontario by the  Veterans Memorial Parkway Community Program, and Tunpetti Corp for community based  planting projects. The sites will be prepared by professional volunteers from horticulture companies in the  area and the trees moved into place. The Scouts, Guides and First Nation’s Cadets from Canada along with their French counterparts will then complete the planting process. The  Volunteers are experienced community tree planters who have taken part in a number of  tree planting projects such as the VMP Community Program or the Scoutrees program in  Canada.
Legacy of Vimy Ridge: The 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge gives Canadians a chance to  remember and reflect on the importance of Vimy Ridge in the history of Canada, and  to the Legacy of Honour and Courage that our country tries to maintain. Many people  in Canada know this is important but are not really sure what happened at Vimy and  the significance it had on our country and The Great War, World War One. Through the Battle of Vimy Ridge there was a feeling that Canada was a great nation,  in charge of its own destiny. Canada developed a reputation for bravery and toughness,  the ability to get the job done even when it was difficult. It showed that all parts of Canada  had come together, soldiers from every province and territory, English and French,  Natives and Metis, east and west. It was now a whole country with a new national identity.