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Old 01-11-2009, 08:45 AM
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The Royal Aboriginal Legion: The Royal Aboriginal Legion (RAL) is a part of the Canadian Army's Corps of Infantry. It is recruited from several Canadian aboriginal nations. The make up of the legion reflects its aboriginal background and the Canadian Army traditions that were involved in the establishment of the unit in 1997 and the unit is officially bi-lingual. The RAL is organised as a typical Canadian legion with three infantry battalions and one medium armoured regiment. In recent years the regiment has been deployed to the Canadian Divisions where it becomes part of Divisional Reconnaissance Groups. However the Legion has had continuing problems in recruiting up to its authorised strength.

History: In 1996 as the result of a new treaty between the Canadian Government and the First Nations of Canada two new federal territories in northern Quebec were created. The settlement was a consequence of the First Nations of Canada realising they lacked the resources to stop Quebec Defence Force’s invasion of tribal lands in Quebec, but could take advantage of their relations with Canadian Government to help gain a foothold in province. The First Nations of Canada invested heavily in the development of the territories and a majority of the population were from that First Nations of Canada, although many non-Aboriginal populations were also present. Following these were other First Nations of Canada populations from eastern Canadian, including tribes from Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. Although not the most numerically significant many Metis also immigrated to the newly established territories.

Formation: In 1997 the James Bay and Nunavik Territories was formed and with it the 4 Canadian Divisions which included former aboriginal guerrilla units. It was decided that the aboriginal guerrilla units would be expanded with the creation of additional reserve units and consequently a aboriginal legion was formed. Consequently the Aboriginal Legion has maintained a distinct Aboriginal flavour from the start. The battalions were formed by an amalgamation of successful aboriginal guerrilla/reserve units and reinforced by local recruits and a leadership cadre recruited mainly from seconded Canadian personnel. Over the months the Legion grew and consolidated; establishing an HQ at CFB Petawawa, Ontario in the Tommy Prince Barracks. The Black Bear Hussars reached full strength first in March 1997, and the other battalion soon followed with the Legion formally active May 30 1997. In 1998 in recognition of the links between the Crown and First Nations of Canada, the Queen bestowed a Royal Warrant on the Legion, which became the Royal Aboriginal Legion.

Recruitment: Links with First Nations of Canada are nurtured and proved a fruitful recruitment tool for the Aboriginal Legion. The bulk of its soldiers are those primarily from First Nations of Canada including those of Metis, Pequot, and Cherokee descent, but also including other North American aboriginals. However Canadian recruitment from these sources has always been relatively poor in terms of the proportion of the population with enlistment more common amongst the more impoverished and marginalised parts of the aboriginal community. RAL's persistent manpower problems have resulted in them looking further afield for recruits, The Pequot remains the centre of these efforts and for a time those communities who earned their livelihoods in the casino trade were targeted. World War III reduced the need for the casino and threw many communities into dire straits.

The RAL's officers are usually drawn from across the regiment, although with a larger proportion of those of Cherokee descent than are found in the ranks. Those of Cree and Blackfoot descent are also strongly represented. Pequot have begun to make their mark but Pequots are almost completely under-represented except for several commissioned ex-Sr NCOs.

Training: For the majority of RAL recruits Phase 1 training is undertaken at CFB Petawawa, Ontario in the Tommy Prince Barracks, although the Pequot recruits from Champlain are trained at Warsaw Barracks at CFB Victory. In recent years the HQ has tried to get all RAL recruits trained initially at CFB Petawawa, but so far this has not come to pass due to opposition in the DND. As a result there is already something of a split between recruits from Canada and those from Champlain before Phase 2 starts.

Phase 2 training is conducted at the Governor General's Infantry Training Centre at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick. There the recruits for the RAL are mixed in with others from across Eastern Canadian for six months of infantry training, including long periods in the field out in the Eastern Training Area. On completion of Phase 2 all RAL recruits are return to their battalions

The RAL has no formal Phase 3, instead the newly qualified soldiers are held administratively with their battalions whilst they undertake a variety of courses. Those going to 114th Battalion must attended and pass the Airborne Jump School for example, and build-up training is conducted until a course becomes available. In addition other weapons or trade courses can be undertaken during this period. Once the recruit is deemed to be qualified to move to a company battalion he is then transferred out.

For fully trained soldiers Training Development Branch runs a number of specialist courses. Most well known of these is the is the Ranger Course, little known outside the Legion but highly regarded within it. Open to all ranks of the RAL, the Ranger Course is 12 weeks long and trains the student in survival, small boat, raiding, reconnaissance, tracking and hunting skills. It has evolved from a training package originally given to 107th Battalion's Aboriginal Rangers Company so it could back up local authorities in search and rescue missions. Today it is more of a specialist military skills course, and success on it, with the award of the Ranger flash, marks out the soldier for the rest of his career. The course is intensive and with only two courses a year each with 20 students it is fairly exclusive. Ranger trained personnel are most frequently found in the recce platoons but can be found throughout the legion. Some non-RAL personnel, usually from Royal Canadian Pathfinders or Canadian Airborne Regiment, have taken the course but RAL personnel have priority.

Units

107th Infantry Battalion (Winnipeg Battalion): More than 500 Indians of many different tribes from all across Canada served in the original 107th Battalion. Raised in December 1915 in the Winnipeg area, with support of the Indian Department, this battalion was at first envisaged as an all Indian unit with white officers. Quite soon it was found that there were insufficient Indian recruits to make the 107th Battalion an entirely Indian unit so non-Indian reinforcements were added. The battalion embarked from Halifax on September 18, 1916, and arrived at Liverpool a week later. On February 1st, 1917, the unit was converted to a pioneer battalion and on February 25th and took to the line. It saw action in France and Belgium before in 1918 the 107th Pioneer Battalion was disbanded and its members were absorbed into a brigade of engineers.

The current the 107th Infantry Battalion was formed for service in remote and mountainous Torngat Mountain region of northern Quebec. In 1996 the newly created Quebec Defence Force invaded the region, in order to secure and pacify Northern Quebec's Aboriginals. In doing so they destroyed most of the major Aboriginal towns and settlements and forced those that didn't escape into camps. The local people, with some Canadian Rangers swiftly organised into guerrilla units and set about freeing the captured and harassing the Quebec Defence Force. The 107th Battalion was sent as back up this guerrilla force. Having some seven companies; with the best soldiers of those companies, chosen for a company sized unit called the Aboriginal Rangers, the 107th Infantry Battalion formed the largest Aboriginal unit since WWI. The 107th Infantry Battalion were remarkably successful in the forested and hilly country and contributed heavily to the eventual destruction of the Quebec Defence Force in Northern Quebec. After the creation of the James Bay and Nunavik Territories; the 107th Infantry Battalion served on the Alaskan front and is now a part of the Royal Canadian Reserve Infantry; based in Winnipeg, retaking their unique traditions and recruitment from the First Nations of Canada.

114th Infantry Battalion (Brock's Rangers): Many members of the Six Nations from the Brantford area enlisted voluntarily in the 114th Battalion, nicknamed "Brock's Rangers"; during WWI. The 114th was authorized December 22, 1914. Recruits joined from Haldimand County as well as from the Six Nations Reserve. A considerable number of Iroquois also came from Caughnawaga and St. Regis. Some 350 Indians all joined the battalion. A few received commissions. The 114th, like many other battalions, was broken up about a year later in England and its members were dispersed as reinforcements, some of the Indian members going to the 107th Battalion.

The current 114th Infantry Battalion is a reserve unit, that is a direct descendent of the original unit. Reactive just before the invasion of Northern Quebec at the Six Nations of the Grand River Aboriginal Reserve. When the aboriginal guerrilla stronghold of Raddison, Quebec was evacuated the 114th Battalion was deployed to harass the Quebec Defence Force garrison. The fighting in Raddison was of the greatest ferocity and took on a life of its own as so few regular soldiers took part in it. In fact only the 114th Infantry Battalion maintained any real cohesion as the 2 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group became little more than armed guerrilla band. Raddison and most of northern Quebec was finally secured when the 115th Reconnaissance Battalion and 107th Infantry Battalion were combined with the 114th Infantry Battalion creating an aboriginal ad-hoc infantry regiment, to force out the last of the Quebec Defence Force. The 114th Battalion was then re-organised and re-equipped as a more conventional light infantry battalion, gaining more heavy weaponry (much of it stolen from the Quebec Defence Force) in the process. With the creation the James Bay and Nunavik Territories; the ad-hoc infantry regiment served on the Alaskan front. These two units gained themselves an excellent reputation in fighting alongside regulars from Canadian Airborne Regiment. The 114th Infantry Battalion returned for a much needed rest and were re-organised as an infantry battalion. Although the 114th Infantry Battalion is now an infantry battalion, they retain a specialisation in mountain warfare and airborne operations that is a major part of their training. The unit is still composed mainly of battle-hardened aboriginal veterans.

115th Reconnaissance Battalion: The 115th Reconnaissance Battalion is a reserve unit originally formed; at Burnt Church, a Mi'kmaq First Nations reserve in New Brunswick; as part of Canada's aboriginal force for military operations in northern Quebec and later Alaska. After the end military operations in northern Quebec and Alaska the 115th Reconnaissance Battalion was disbanded. When Canada decided to make a further commitment to the 'war' against Quebec under auspices of defence for James Bay and Nunavik territories, DND realized best contribution it could make would be a close reconnaissance formation. With no permanent unit fitting the bill, the 115th Reconnaissance Battalion were reactivated. This was achieved by forming new companies from existing Royal Canadian Pathfinders units and posting individual volunteers from other parts of the Canadian Armed Forces to the battalion command. They formed up at CFB Gagetown on the 5th July 1997. The 115th Infantry Battalion is comprised of 3 rifle companies, a special artillery OP battery and an HQ company. All 3 Rifle Companies of the 115th Infantry Battalion are General Reconnaissance Companies. They are organised into three 20 man platoons, a Tac Sp Pl and a small HQ Element. Each of the platoons has four, four man reconnaissance teams and a four man command team, the platoon also has access to five heavily armed Volkswagen Iltis - General Purpose Truck's for movement. Tac Sp Pl includes Close Support, Mortar Sections all mounted on Iltis's.

The Black Bear Hussars: The Black Bear Hussars are an amalgamation of two of the most successful aboriginal guerrilla units operating in the Northern Quebec Mountains. The Black Bears were a unit; out of Quebec City; of former military personnel from the nearby CFB Valcartier, they operated as foot borne infantry in small units deep behind the Quebec Defence Force lines. Dennison's Hussars were a horse mounted infantry unit that gained fame in hunting down Quebec Defence Force stragglers in the aftermath of the Battle of Raddison. As the Torngat Mountain range were never long under control of the Quebec Defence Force the units were brought under stricter military control and amalgamated as a reconnaissance unit mounted on all-terrain vehicles. With the creation the James Bay and Nunavik Territories; the unit was sent to CFB Wainwright , Alberta and re-trained and re-equipped with the latest Leopard C2 (Reserve Main Battle Tank). The unit has just returned to the James Bay Territory.
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