Indigenous military service in Canada spans generations. First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans served in major wars, military conflicts and peace while many also faced discrimination at home.
This page introduces several Indigenous Veterans whose stories are documented by Veterans Affairs Canada. It is not a complete list. Every region and Nation has its own Veterans whose stories deserve to be learned and remembered.
Francis Pegahmagabow
Francis Pegahmagabow of Wasauksing First Nation served through much of the First World War and became one of Canada’s most highly decorated Indigenous soldiers. He received the Military Medal with two bars for bravery.
Tommy Prince
Tommy Prince of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation served during the Second World War and Korean War. His reconnaissance work and military record made him one of Canada’s best-known Indigenous Veterans.
Henry Louis Norwest
Henry Louis Norwest was a Métis marksman from Alberta who became one of the Canadian Corps’ best-known snipers during the First World War. He received the Military Medal and a bar.
Edith Anderson Monture
Edith Anderson Monture left her work as a nurse to serve during the First World War. Her story is part of the long history of Indigenous women contributing to wartime service and care.
Chief Joseph Dreaver
Chief Joseph Dreaver was a Veteran of both the First and Second World Wars. His story is one of the many examples of Indigenous people serving across more than one generation of conflict.
Alex Decoteau
Alex Decoteau became Canada’s first Indigenous police officer when he joined the Edmonton Police Service and later served during the First World War.
Why Learn Individual Veterans’ Stories?
Learning names, Nations and individual stories prevents Indigenous military service from becoming a single statistic. It also helps students and communities understand the diversity of service experiences across First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
