Article - Native Veterans History Book Research Project

Articles

Native Veterans History Book Research Project

from the Shoal Lake Veterans files - by David-Michael Thompson

In 1873, the Shoal Lake Anishinabe agreed to enter into the North-West Angle Treaty with the Dominion of Canada. Today it is commonly known as "Treaty No. 3".

During the negotiation of the treaty, many of the Chiefs stated that they did not wish to be involved in any wars fought by the Crown and this was agreed to .

Extracts from the official dispatch of the Lieutenant Governor:

They then asked that they should not be sent to War, and I told them the Queen was not in the habit of employing the Indians in warfare.

Chief: There is one thing that we want to know. If you should get into trouble with the Nations, I don not wish to walk out and expose my young men to aid you in any of your wars.

Governor: The English never call the Indians out of their country to fight their battles. You are living here and the Queen expects you to live at peace with the white men and your red brothers and with other nations.

The business of the Treaty having now been completed, the Chief, Mawedopenais, who with Powassan, and with such wonderful tact carried on the negotiations, stepped up to the Governor, and said: "Now you see we stand before you all; what has been done here today has been done openly before the Great spirit and before you the Nation, and I hope that I may never hear anyone say that this treaty has been done secretly; and now, in closing this Council, I take off my glove, and in giving you my hand, I hold fast all the promises you have made, and I hope they will last as long as the Sun goes around and the Water flows as you have said".

The Governor then took his hand and said I accept your hand and with it the lands, and you will keep all my promises, in the firm belief that the treaty now be signed will bind the red man and the white together as friends forever.

When Canada became involved in the First World War, many young Indian men volunteered their military service for the King and Country. Shoal Lake Anishinabe men volunteered even though Treaty No.3 exempted them from military service. Records indicate that the following Shoal Lake Anishinabe served in the First World War.

Private KEJICK, David 141st Battalion 821017 Shoal Lake #39

Private LAND, George 141st Battalion 820712 Shoal Lake #40

Private OGEMAH, Grant 141st Battalion 820906 Shoal Lake #39

Private REDSKY, Edward 141st Battalion 820905 Shoal Lake #40

Private REDSKY, James 141st Battalion 820872 Shoal Lake #40

Initially, these men enlisted with the 141st "Bull Moose" Battalion and later were transferred to the "Fighting" 52nd Battalion overseas. There are many accounts of the experiences by Indian men in the First World War. However, the most revealing stories are the ones told by the people who were there. These are the stories of Shoal Lake Anishinabe war veterans who lived and survived the First World War.

James Redsky (Esquekesik)
Caribou totem
Shoal Lake Reserve
Kejick, Ontario
1972
I want our children to know that they have a history in this country too.

The Indians of Canada have distinguished themselves in many ways from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Their deeds are woven into the very fabric of history in Canada.

Emblazoned on monuments across this nation and beyond you will find their names.

The Indians of this continent have marked the cliffs and high rocks with their own blood and time will not wash it away; they will not be forgotten.

There were four of us from Shoal Lake in the army. They were Grant Ogemah; David Kesick (Jetaquaba); Edward Redsky (Ogimawinini), my brother. It was just luck that we all came back from the hardship that we had to endure.

In June of 1915, I enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Kenora. Just imagine a little punk, brought up on moose meat and dried fish, standing five-foot six inches, weighing only one hundred and twenty pounds. I was only fifteen years old. When we were training in Kenora, I used to get leave and return to Shoal Lake to visit my dad (Miskokesik) and mother (Endapeek). I remember how they hailed me in my khaki uniform. I was proud of it too.

I was placed in the 52nd Canadian Light Infantry, B Company, 8th Platoon - the Machine Gunners. Captain Hardy was the company commander. Since most of us boys were moose eaters from the northwest, we were called "The Bull Moose Battalion" by the rest of the Canadians.

My other side-kicks in the army were Horten Douglas and Stewart Moses. When I got to Port Arthur, I made more friends. There was no way for us to become lonesome because there was activity all day and night.

In June we left Port Arthur and when we arrived in England, we camped at Shorncliffe. There, we were not allowed to leave camp. Suddenly, we had to leave for France. We crossed the Dover Strait and then boarded big lorries and went to Etaples. Here we received tough training; I received training as a machine gunner. We used to go into the trenches overnight and were not allowed to sleep. Rations started and we were allowed one can of cornbeef and two hardtacks a day. I got very tired until I got used to the routine.

After Etaples, we moved nearer to the front lines at Vimy Ridge. From here we could see the big guns. Overhead we saw the dogfights. One plane would chase another and the one coming up behind the other would pass it. Suddenly a plane would come down in flames.

After Vimy was taken we went to Cambrai; my very best friend was killed there. He was the only guy I knew really well and was always a good fellow to me. He knew I was just a young boy. We shared everything together. Sometimes when we were short of rations, we would go out at night and buy black bread from the French peasants living close by. Often, we would go together to the pubs and order Vin Blanc or Vin Rouge and then return happy and alive to our billets.

After the fall of Cambrai, we marched to Passchendaele, my first grim experience in warfare. That battle was the toughest thing a human being could endure. Some of our Canadian boys could not survive the hardship. Many fell asleep on duty, never to awake again; they drowned in the mud.

One morning at Passchendaele, I awoke soaked from the rain. I tried to pick up my packsack but couldn't budge it. Then I heard a whiz-bang coming and I tried to duck but I couldn't get away. The shell exploded four or five feet from me. When I woke up, I was wounded from shrapnel and couldn't move my legs.

The Medical Corps sent me to England where I recovered at the Bradford War Hospital. It was a lonesome stay there. I wrote to my mother, explaining to her what had happened. I also wrote to my dearest friend Blanche Anderson in Fort William. I received a letter back from her a few weeks later explaining how sorry she was that I was wounded. She also sent me a small cake and wrote me all during the war. I was always proud of Blanche for the way she treated me. I won't forget her as long as I live.

When I was discharged from Bradford, I went back to my regiment.

Then one night our regiment started walking and walking. We all knew that something big was cooking but we couldn't see it. But we could smell a battle and by God it was a dirty smell. When I looked at the stars we were moving south. Then I knew we were going straight for the big bulge at Amiens. In the early morning of August the 8th, we went into the front lines. The big guns started and the whole earth shook from a tremendous cannon barrage. Then it got quiet and we went over the top and we advanced for miles without seeing any Germans. When we stopped, the Calvary went by, looking like something out of a motion picture.

The next day we moved again until we arrived at Damery. Here, there was bitter fighting as the Germans tried to cut us off. The 52nd French Chasseurs were on our left flank and the British were on our right. If either of these flanks fell, we knew we would be wiped out. We prayed and prayed the boys would not give up.

The Germans kept coming, swarming over the trenches in attack. Our machine guns got red hot and the air was filled with smoke. When the fighting finished, I went over to the front line to see the damage. It was an awful mess, Germans and Canadians lay all over, some wounded, some dead.

I went back to rest and wrote to Blanche: The boys have gone, but not their sweat nor their blood, that will remain forever.

Pte. David Kejick (Jataquaba) - 141st Battalion
Shoal Lake #39
Kejick, Ontario

The Indian agent at Kenora reported that David could only speak a few words of English when he first enlisted. By the end of the First World War, he learned to speak English fluently and also to read and write it nicely. Private Kejick was described as the perfect type of soldier. David was described as a genial giant of a man, over six feet tall in his moccasins and strong as a bull. He was easily the tallest man in the 52nd Battalion. David was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his action in the Battle of Cambrai. However, it was an event he would not openly talk about. Finally, a white friend, Tom Ellacott, who had served with David, told how he earned the medal.

B Company of the 52nd Battalion, under Captain Clarence Smith, had suffered a terrible bombardment which had reduced the company to a mere handful until even the bandsmen were given rifles and placed in the front line. At dawn came the order to attack. Less than fifty men were left to go over the top. The Chief (David Kejick), an ox of a man for strength, picked up a Lewis gun and, with Ellacott carrying the ammunition, bounded forward. Ahead lay the machine gun of the German emplacement. The Chief dropped in the mud and, with Ellacott behind, crawled stealthily forward. Then, with a war-whoop on his lips, he rushed the emplacement and thrust the muzzle of the Lewis gun over the top. Without a shot, the German gun crew surrendered and a connecting dugout gave up more prisoners until eighty-seven stood shivering with outstretched arms. A wounded Canadian escorted the prisoners back to the line.

"Why the Chief didn't get the Victoria Cross I don't know", remarked Mr. Ellacott who was filled with admiration of the man's accomplishment. "He was the bravest man I ever knew".

The citation of the Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to Private David Kejick (served as Kisek) reads:

He displayed marked courage and intelligence during the attack on enemy positions at Tilloy on 1st October 1918. When his company was held up by heavy fire, he, on his own initiative, ran into the open, and, with his Lewis gun at the hip, fired for pans into the enemy machine guns. His fire was so effective that a party of the company on the right were able to advance and capture four machine guns together with about 70 prisoners.

Private Kejick's accomplishment was strongly acknowledged by his commanding officer and in fact the Colonel recommended to promote him to the rank of sergeant. However, David kindly refused and said, "I can speak English but not write good".

Shoal Lake Anishinabe Veterans of World War Two (1939-1945)

GREEN, Robert

KESICK, Frazer

WILLIAMS, Wilfred

It is the wishes of people like Willy John and James Redsky that the contributions made by Indian people to Canada be recognized. One day everyone will begin to learn the full history of Canada when they read a book in school about Anishinabe war veterans. In the meantime, every effort is made to provide information to educate the public about this little known history of Native peoples' involvement and contribution in Canada's wars.

As the volunteer Research Developer, I take the full responsibility for the accuracy of the historical information presented. The Native Veterans History Book Research Project is in the final stage of information gathering. If there are any questions or comments about the material provided or about the project please contact me. Meegwetch.

David-Michael Thompson