DND/CAF Eagle Staff

Indigenous soldiers brought valuable skills from their backgrounds, excelling as snipers and reconnaissance scouts. At least 50 were awarded medals for bravery, including Métis sniper Henry Louis Norwest, known for his remarkable patience and credited with 115 enemy kills before his death on Aug. 8, 1918.

Despite past injustices, Indigenous soldiers enlisted again during WWII, taking on roles like ‘code talkers.’ Charles ‘Checker’ Tomkins translated military messages from English into Cree, safeguarding critical information from enemy forces.

Indigenous soldiers also participated in the Korean War, including Sgt. Tommy Prince of the Brokenhead Nation, recognized as Canada’s most decorated Indigenous veteran. After serving in elite military units during WWII, Prince advocated for Indigenous rights and re-enlisted for the Korean War, where his leadership and bravery continued to shine.