Canwest News Service, November 17, 2009
by Randy Boswell,
With both Canada and the U.S. now preparing to mark the upcoming bicentennial of the War of 1812, this country's aboriginal leaders are pressing federal and provincial governments to ensure high-profile recognition of the key role First Nations played in preventing the conquest of Canada by American forces.
"The 1812 War bicentennial presents a national milestone opportunity for the government of Canada to revitalize relations with indigenous nations," states a resolution recently adopted by the Assembly of First Nations. "The contributions and sacrifices of the indigenous nations and warriors in the battles of the 1812 War have been ignored. These failures have resulted in the oppression and underdevelopment of First Nations, missing Canadian history and omissions in Canadian education."
Earlier this year, the federal government announced it was earmarking $12 million in economic stimulus spending for improvements at six historic sites associated with the War of 1812 in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.
"The government of Canada recognizes the War of 1812 as a crucial nation-building chapter in Canadian history and celebrates two centuries of peaceful coexistence with the United States," Environment Minister Jim Prentice, who oversees Parks Canada, said in May.
That announcement coincided with the unveiling of major restoration work on Brock's Monument, the famous Niagara-area memorial to British officer Sir Isaac Brock, who died resisting an American advance at the Battle of Queenston Heights in October 1812.
But spurred by complaints from two chiefs in Ontario, where much of the fighting occurred during the war, the AFN is insisting that "great strides must be taken by Canada to work with First Nations to deal honourably with War of 1812 commemoration activities."
Chief Dean Sayers of Batchewana First Nation and Chief Donald Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte led the call for greater aboriginal influence in marking the bicentennial.
"If it wasn't for the First Nations' support for the British, Canada would have been lost to the Americans," said Angus Toulouse, the AFN's regional chief for Ontario.
The chiefs have called for new commitments for "monuments to honour indigenous warriors and leaders" and new programs "to promote public education to overcome the missing history" of the contributions made by First Nations in helping to thwart the American invasion.
Last week, a new federal citizenship guide for newcomers to Canada highlighted the War of 1812 heroism of Shawnee chief Tecumseh, who "supported British soldiers in Canada's defence."
His heroic death in a battle near London, Ont., in October 1813 is frequently cited as example of the sacrifices made by British Canada's aboriginal allies during the war.
It's believed the 1812-14 conflict left more native warriors dead than British, Canadian and American soldiers combined.
Doug Stewart, a senior Parks Canada official who's helping lead federal efforts to commemorate the war's bicentennial, told Canwest News Service that "anyone who knows about the War of 1812" would be aware that First Nations allies were "tremendously important" to the conflict's "successful outcome" from Canada's perspective.
He added that recognition of the crucial roles played by the First Nations and early Canadian settlers in resisting the U.S. invasion is one of the four key themes shaping Parks Canada's commemoration plans.
The other themes are the war's importance as a nation-building event for Canada, the many acts of battlefield courage and sacrifice, and the two centuries of peaceful Canada-U.S. relations that followed the conflict, he said.
Stewart noted that aboriginal historian Keith Jamieson from Ontario's Six Nations has been involved in planning the bicentennial and that Parks Canada intends "full engagement" with native communities "to help us tell the authentic story" of the war.
Source: Canwest News Service