Qulliq added as optional spiritual symbol for National Military Cemetery headstones

Inuit now have a new option to honour veterans, with the unveiling of a qulliq symbol Tuesday in Ottawa.

Around 70 people, including Gov. Gen Mary Simon and Canadian Armed Forces leaders, gathered at the city’s Beechwood Cemetery to honour Inuit service members and celebrate the addition of the qulliq as an optional spiritual symbol that can be added to headstones at the National Military Cemetery, where more than 5,000 Canadian soldiers and veterans are buried.

The National Military Cemetery is part of Beechwood.

The qulliq, a traditional Inuit oil lamp, joins the First Nations medicine wheel and the Métis infinity symbol, which were added in 2022.

Patrol Sgt. Titus Allooloo, a Pond Inlet Canadian Ranger, said he’s happy to see Inuit recognized at the National Military Cemetery.

“It also recognizes that the Inuit are a very important part of Canada, they’re the foundation of parts of Canada, especially in the North,” Allooloo said. “Recognizing them nationally is very important to show the Canadian public that we do exist and we are [an] important part of the sovereignty up in the North.”

Lt. Gen. Michael Wright, commander of the Canadian Army, spoke of the importance of the qulliq.

From left: Canadian Army commander Lt. Gen. Michael Wright, elder Sally Webster, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier take part in the qulliq symbol unveiling Tuesday in Ottawa. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

“It represents continuity, care, and responsibility to one another, which are values that we share as soldiers,” Wright said. “Its presence here ensures that Inuit service members are honoured in a way that reflects who they are — not just as sailors, soldiers, aviators, and rangers — but as Inuit.”

Wright, who also holds the title of being one of the Department of National Defence’s “co-champions for Indigenous peoples,” thanked Inuit for their service.

Inuit culture and performance took centre stage at Tuesday’s ceremony.

Elder Sally Webster of Baker Lake opened the event with the lighting of the qulliq, and Kuujjuaq’s Joey Partridge, who performs as Juurini, sang an Inuktitut, French and English rendition of O Canada, as well as songs from his own catalogue.

Following the speeches, the symbol unveiling and some photo-ops, throat singers Jane Singorie and Sheena Akoomalik, as well as drum dancer Ruben Komangapik, also performed for the crowd.