Today, March 17th, is St. Patrick’s Day and, once again, a reader reminds us of the role that First Nations played during the Irish famine. 
To the Editor: (2025)
Ireland is now a wealthy and affluent country. However in 1847, it was in the throes of a devastating famine. Of course this is all well known and thoroughly documented.
But what is not well known is that in Canada several First Nations bands of indigenous people came together to donate money for the relief of suffering in Ireland in 1847. One such band was the Saugeen, Ojibwa of Lake Huron. I’m sure these folks were only marginally better off than the starving Irish.
The contribution of the Canadian First Nations bands is being recognized in Ireland on this St Patrick’s Day.
Today, I am truly humbled to be living in the midst of the descendants of these wonderful people.
Gerard Walsh
