Profile of Peter Towigishig

Profile of Peter Towigishig Shimaginish May/June 1989 - Volume 1 No.2

Peter Towishig of Longlac Reserve was born on September 20, 1919. When the Second World War was declared, Peter was looking after his mother, living in a tent in Longlac. At this time, Peter wasn't working; he used to find seasonal jobs, and trapped in the winter.

The Canadian Army was recruiting and Peter volunteered for a 3 month training centre. After this training period was finished, Peter went home to visit his mother. He then stayed in the Canadian Army for the duration of the war. They wanted him to go to Red Deer, Alberta, and the training camp for this was in Fort William, where Can-Car is now situated. Instead, Peter volunteered for active service overseas, and enlisted at the Current River Barracks in Port Arthur. Peter went overseas from Halifax to Europe on the Queen Victoria (which was later sunk during the war).

Peter served in the Canadian Army from 1941 to 1946, in France and in Normandy. He was in Normandy on D-Day, June 6th. Peter remembers someone asking him about that day, and receiving a present for having survived that time in his life.

Coming home from the war, Peter said it took them four days to cross on the Queen Mary from Europe to New York. He then came home to Longlac on the troop train which was going to Winnipeg. He had a 30 day leave, after which he went to Winnipeg to get his discharge.

Being in the Army did not affect Peter's treaty status. He was able to vote in elections and he had a DVA house built on the reserve.

Peter had only two years of schooling; what he has learned through practical experience and life could fill a book. He says that any question asked of him, he could probably answer just from his experiences.

As for the question asked about what advice he would offer to Native youth to preserve our future for which he fought, Peter suggests that they READ our book. He said to write that book on Native Veterans, and have 10 commandments on how the Native youth of Native Veterans should be. He said that the Bible has 10 commandments; the book on Native Veterans should also have 10. He suggest that a copy of the book should be sent to every Native family and encourage our youth to read it.

Peter has four children: Peter Jr., age 14; Theresa, age 12; Elliot, age 7; and Joanna, age 5.