Nathaniel Merasty: a Veteran and a First Nations University of Canada Student

FNUniv is excited to highlight one Indigenous Business & Public Administration student, Nathaniel Merasty.

Nathaniel shared his service with the Royal Regina Rifles, a primary reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. Most recently, he spoke on behalf of the Regina Students’ Association and participated by laying a wreath at the annual Remembrance Day Service Regina Campus.

“tansi, hello, all my relations; my name is Nathaniel Robert Merasty; I did the Bold Eagle program right after high school in July 2013. I then rejoined and currently serve in our armed forces as an Infantry soldier; my rank is corporal, and my home unit is the Royal Regina Rifles based in Regina.

Currently, our unit is tasked with the direct fire support role, utilizing heavy weapons to support other combat arms such as the 50 Cal, Automatic Grenade launcher system (C-16), Carl-G (Anti-tank missile) and the C-6 (General purpose machine gun). I joined the Royal Regina Rifles in the Fall of 2015 as a military reservist, serving only part-time on Thursday nights and weekend exercises, travelling to Canadian forces base Dundurn for most of our exercises. I completed my Infantry course in the summer of 2016 and got promoted to Corporal in the fall of 2017.”

To date, Nathaniel’s most significant achievement, which he is incredibly proud of, was the opportunity to represent the Indigenous soldiers who fought in WW2 by being tasked to go to France for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. At this event, he made an international address broadcast on live television and was honoured to stand guard at one of the fallen soldier’s grave sites.

Nathaniel is in his fourth year of studies, majoring in accounting, and holds the title of Director of Finance for the Students’ Association, Regina Campus. Adding to his resume, Nathaniel took on the role of the student accounting officer with the Finance Department at FNUniv from May to September 2024.

“I love being a student here and am proud to have been a part of the staff team here at FNUniv.”

Thank you for your service Nathaniel. The First Nations University of Canada holds all veterans in high regard.