Long Plain First Nation had a cenotaph ready for commemoration of Aboriginal community members who served in the military in Canada before Aboriginal Veterans Day started up throughout the nation in 2001, while it began in Manitoba in 1994.

Chief Dennis Meeches describes efforts he personally made to see the current cenotaph erected in the community.

"When I first got elected in 1998, the very first thing I did is went and visited George Myran," says Meeches. "I thought it was important to acknowledge him and also to present some tobacco to him to ask him to help work with having a cenotaph for Long Plain community. He was very, very happy about that important task."

Meeches says Myran wanted a time capsule installed in the cenotaph in 1999. Myran is a veteran. 

"And on Treaty Days, when it was opened, ever since then, we come to celebrate every year," continues Meeches. "Every year, we come here on Treaty Days also to raise the flags and our Treaty Day celebrations. That celebration is also important for acknowledging our veterans and our relationship with Canada. Our Treaty Day was August 3rd, 1871, but when Long Plain has Treaty Days here, we would have it the Thursday before the Long Plain Powwow. So, the date may change year-to-year, but August 3rd is always acknowledged with the Treaty 1 nation government."

He says on June 20, the 1876 Treaty is also acknowledged, which is the Adhesion Treaty to Treaty 1. Treaty adhesions are considered sacred agreements that created an ongoing relationship with the Crown, just as the original Treaties did.