Heritage Toronto

Studio portrait taken in July 1882 of the surviving Six Nations warriors who fought with the British in the War of 1812. (R to L: John Smoke Johnson, John Tutela, and Young Warner), 1882. Courtesy of

Oliver Martin's last known home address. Heritage Toronto, 2020.

Lieutenants of the the 107th Battalion, "Timberwolf" Battalion. July 1917, Courtesy of John Moses.

Long-time allies

Canada’s Indigenous populations have been important military allies since the time of contact. Early land disputes between colonies wouldn’t have been settled and many early colonial populations would not have survived without Indigenous protection. The course of history would have been much changed if Indigenous allies didn’t fight in such imperative wars like the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812 to name a few.

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Joining the war effort

During the Great War of the 1910s it’s estimated up to 6,000 Indigenous men voluntarily enlisted despite the government’s policy to not recruit from reserves. Many enlisted hoping their contribution to the war effort would grant them greater rights.

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The Mohawk man who became a Brigadier

Oliver Milton Martin (1893-1957) from Six Nations reserve was one such volunteer. He first entered the Armed Forces at 16 years old as a bugler. Following the declaration of the First World War, he and his brothers promptly enlisted. Martin fought overseas and became a pilot for the RFC. Come World War II, he enlisted again and was quickly promoted to Brigadier, making him the highest ranked Indigenous person in the Canadian military. He returned to Toronto after the war to work as a teacher at Secord School and lived at this stop location.

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Honouring Indigenous veterans

Following these two wars, Indigenous veterans returned expecting benefits for service and perhaps the right to vote following their service to the country. Instead, Veteran Affairs were diverted to local Indian Affairs agents who were unqualified and prevented Indigenous veterans from accessing the little benefits they were entitled to. It was not until 2003 and 2019 that the federal government officially apologized to Indigenous, Inuit, and Metis veterans.

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Long-time allies

Joining the war effort

The Mohawk man who became a Brigadier

Honouring Indigenous veterans

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