Canadian Aboriginal War Veterans Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. It is estimated that approximately how many Aboriginal soldiers served in the Canadian military during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War?

Answer: 12,000

In these three wars, over 500 Aboriginal soldiers were killed in the line of duty.

2. Aboriginal Canadians fought during the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

Answer: True

Historical records show that many Aboriginals from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) fought on the side of the British during these two major wars.

3. Many Aboriginals used the Cree language to their advantage during combat. What were these Aboriginal soldiers known as?

Answer: Code Talkers

Many Aboriginals spoke in Cree when communicating important messages and sensitive tactics to their fellow soldiers. By using this technique, they were able to speak a language the enemy did not understand and used this at times to try and confuse their opponents.

4. Which of the following Aboriginal soldiers was highly decorated for bravery and was considered the most effective sniper during World War I?

Answer: Francis Pegahmagabow

Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow risked his life for Canada during World War I. He has been credited with killing up to 378 German soldiers and capturing up to 300 more by many historians. Pegahmagabow saw action in many WWI battles including the Battle of Somme, the Second Battle at Ypres, and Passchendaele.

5. Which of the following World War I Aboriginal soldiers earned a Military Medal in 1917 and then was killed a year later?

Answer: Henry Norwest

Henry Norwest earned the Military Medal for his efforts to capture a peak on Vimy Ridge known as "the Pimple". According to records, his citation for receiving the award reads:

"...great bravery, skill and initiative in sniping the enemy after the capture of the Pimple. By his activity he saved a great number of our men's lives."

In 1918, Norwest also received a bar to go along with his Military Medal. One week after earning this prestigious bar, Norwest was shot by a sniper's bullet, killing him instantly.

6. Oliver Milton Martin has appeared in many Native newspapers and magazines. Following World War II, he had achieved the highest rank that an Aboriginal soldier had ever attained. What was his rank when he retired from the military?

Answer: Brigadier

Brigadier Oliver Milton Martin served for the Canadian military during World War I and trained recruits for the Canadian military during World War II. He was highly distinguished during both his military career as well as his time apart from the military. During World War I, Martin spent seven months in France and Belgium and unlike many WWI soldiers, he was able to survive a German gas attack. During his time away from the military, he was a principal at a school in Toronto, and after retiring from the military in 1944, Martin became the provincial magistrate for Ontario District 6.

He served as provincial magistrate until his death in 1957.

7. Aboriginal Canadian women did not serve during World War I, World War II, or the Korean War.

Answer: False

Aboriginal women, like many other women that served during the war, served mainly as nurses. One famous Aboriginal nurse, Edith Anderson Monture, left her job as an elementary school nurse to assist the Canadian military in 1917. She joined the U.S. Medical Corps and tended sick and wounded American soldiers at a military hospital in France.

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/other/native/nurse

8. Which of the following Aboriginal soldiers won 11 military medals, saved a drowning man in 1955, and eventually lived the life of an alcoholic that left him virtually living alone in a Salvation Army hostel until his death in 1977?

Answer: Tommy Prince

Tommy Prince has been long considered one of Canada's all-time decorated war hero. He served in the Second World War from 1940 until 1945. His actions in this war was incredible. He was a member of "The Black Devils", a distinguished Canadian military unit that used black shoe polish to cover up their faces when attacking German soldiers at night. He earned nine medals during the Second World War including the United States Silver Star for his heroism in France. He earned nine medals during the Second World War and two other medals during the Korean War.

Adjusting to civilian life was not easy for Prince as racism and discrimination played a large part in his life. He would take on the path of alcoholism to ease his difficulties. In 1955, Prince saved a drowning man from the Alexander Docks in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This was the last heroic effort in his life. At the time of his death in 1977, Prince spent much of his time in Salvation Army hostels and had been estranged from his family.

9. George Edward Jamieson belonged to which branch of the Canadian military?

Answer: Navy

George Jamieson was a distinguished Aboriginal member of the Canadian Navy. He became a specialist in anti-submarine techniques. He was a member of the destroyer HMCS Iroquois. While on board this destroyer, he would be an instructor for soldiers on board during the Korean War.

10. Tom Longboat was a soldier during the First World War. He had already earned fame prior to becoming a soldier. In what did he earn fame?

Answer: Athletics

Tom Longboat was a famous runner in the early 1900s. Prior to enlisting in the military in 1916, he had already earned thousands of dollars from winning various track and field championships. In 1907, Longboat would go on to win the Boston Marathon.

He would solidify his status as a celebrity when in 1909, he won the world professional marathon championships in New York City at Madison Square Garden. As a soldier, he was wounded twice on active service. He was declared legally dead in 1919, however, this turned out to untrue.

He was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and in 1949 passed away at the age of 62.

Source: Author apathy100

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

This quiz is dedicated to the Aboriginal war heroes of Canada.

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