First published 2012
When World War I erupts, Canada's First Nations communities immediately offer their warriors and resources to support the Crown, following centuries of military partnerships with European powers. They see military service as a path to equality and a way to resist cultural erasure. The Canadian government initially refuses these offers, claiming Indigenous people cannot handle modern warfare. But Britain steps in during 1915, demanding Canada recruit Indian soldiers to fill desperate manpower needs. This creates a web of competing bureaucracies that will shape every aspect of Indigenous military experience. More than 4,000 status Indians volunteer for the Canadian Expeditionary Force between 1914 and 1919, matching the participation rate of Euro-Canadians. Winegard follows these soldiers as they face discrimination in recruitment, prove themselves on European battlefields, and return home to find their service largely ignored. The book reveals how international politics and domestic prejudice collided to create a unique and often contradictory wartime experience for Canada's Aboriginal veterans.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, military-fiction, canadian-literature, native-american, world-war-i
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: discrimination, found-family
Setting: Canada, Europe
Period: 1914-1919
240 pages · Paperback · University of Manitoba Press
Content warnings: racism