I will be examining the context of Native Canadians in the first world war, while referencing Boyden’s style of integrating that experience in Elijah, Xavier and Peggy.
I started this IOP with the assumption that native Canadians were not treated as fairly as the Canadians during the war. That they were not recognised in history and may have had to do extra work from racist undertones. Perhaps seeing that the history could be different than the book details.
During the first world war, an estimated 4000 Aboriginal people voluntarily enlisted into the Canadian military. One third of First Nations people in Canada age 18 to 45 enlisted, along with Inuit and Métis who were not recorded by the Canadian Expeditionary Force seeing as they were …show more content…
The interaction between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people was uncommon prior to the war in Canadian society. This interaction during service allowed negative stereotypes to be debunked and for Canadian soldiers to better understand Aboriginal people. Aboriginal soldiers became a valuable asset to their company and were well-liked members of their units (aadnc-aadc.gc.ca). Many Aboriginal men were commissioned officers, platoon-leaders and combat instructors. 50 were decorated with medals for bravery on the battlefield. Some had a famous status as scouts and snipers including Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow …show more content…
He was an Ojibwa from the Parry Island Band in Ontario, who enlisted in August, 1914 and fought till the end of the war. He received a Military medal with two bars for acts of bravery with the bars being additional acts. He was one of thirty-nine men in the whole Canadian Expeditionary Force to receive this honour. During his time overseas he served as a sniper and a scout with the 1st Battalion where his number of kills range up to 378 (historymuseum.ca). He was written by fellow soldier as “His iron nerves, patience and superb marksmanship helped make him an outstanding sniper”. After the end of the war he remained overseas and joined the Algonquin regiment. He would then follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, becoming chief of Parry Island Band and later in life a counsellor. He would rarely speak of his military achievements and preferred to ensure that the culture of his people was not lost
I started this IOP with the assumption that native Canadians were not treated as fairly as the Canadians during the war. That they were not recognised in history and may have had to do extra work from racist undertones. Perhaps seeing that the history could be different than the book details.
During the first world war, an estimated 4000 Aboriginal people voluntarily enlisted into the Canadian military. One third of First Nations people in Canada age 18 to 45 enlisted, along with Inuit and Métis who were not recorded by the Canadian Expeditionary Force seeing as they were …show more content…
The interaction between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people was uncommon prior to the war in Canadian society. This interaction during service allowed negative stereotypes to be debunked and for Canadian soldiers to better understand Aboriginal people. Aboriginal soldiers became a valuable asset to their company and were well-liked members of their units (aadnc-aadc.gc.ca). Many Aboriginal men were commissioned officers, platoon-leaders and combat instructors. 50 were decorated with medals for bravery on the battlefield. Some had a famous status as scouts and snipers including Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow …show more content…
He was an Ojibwa from the Parry Island Band in Ontario, who enlisted in August, 1914 and fought till the end of the war. He received a Military medal with two bars for acts of bravery with the bars being additional acts. He was one of thirty-nine men in the whole Canadian Expeditionary Force to receive this honour. During his time overseas he served as a sniper and a scout with the 1st Battalion where his number of kills range up to 378 (historymuseum.ca). He was written by fellow soldier as “His iron nerves, patience and superb marksmanship helped make him an outstanding sniper”. After the end of the war he remained overseas and joined the Algonquin regiment. He would then follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, becoming chief of Parry Island Band and later in life a counsellor. He would rarely speak of his military achievements and preferred to ensure that the culture of his people was not lost