Indigenous veterans to be honoured Friday in Iqaluit
Cousin of war hero Tommy Prince to lay wreath during morning cenotaph service
Christopher Ledger will lay the wreath at the Iqaluit Legion cenotaph on Friday, which is Indigenous Veterans Day. Ledger served with the Lake Superior Scottish regiment and the Royal Canadian Regiment. (Photo by Daron Letts)
Sgt. Thomas (Tommy) Prince was among the most decorated Indigenous war veterans in Canadian history.
His cousin, Chris Ledger, plans to lay the wreath at the cenotaph in Iqaluit on Friday, to mark the 30th annual Indigenous Veterans Day.
Prince served in Canada’s 1st Special Service Force during the Second World War, a joint Canada-U.S. specialized reconnaissance and raiding unit.
That is the real-life brigade popularly fictionalized in the films Inglorious Basterds and The Devil’s Brigade, as well as in the pages of Marvel Comics’ Wolverine, the unit’s most famous make-believe member.
Ledger, himself Ojibway/Cree Metis, said he only recently learned he was related to Prince through a cousin by marriage.
“I just found out this year I was related to him because, last year, my cousin laid a wreath (in Thunder Bay) on behalf of Tommy Prince,” he said. “I got flooded with emotions. I got goosebumps and teared up.”
Ledger, treasurer for Legion branch 168 in Iqaluit, served in the military from 1994 to 1997. This is his second year representing Indigenous veterans on Nov. 8 in Iqaluit.
“I have lost friends from both regiments in the Afghanistan War,” said Ledger, whose relatives have also served, including his great-grandfather, who fought with British forces in the Second World War.
“Laying this wreath lets me reflect on lost friends and family from all the conflicts Canada has fought in. It is very important to me to lay this wreath as an Indigenous person. It brings tears to my eyes and pride in my culture.”
Tommy Prince, right, was summoned to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI decorated him with both the Military Medal and, on behalf of the president of the United States, the Silver Star with ribbon. Tommy Prince was one of 59 Canadians who were awarded the Silver Star during the Second World War. He appears with a brother in this photograph. (Photo courtesy of C.J. Woods / Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-142289)
Prince, of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation in Manitoba, served as a reconnaissance expert and sniper in what the Germans nicknamed “The Devil’s Brigade.” He also went on to serve in the Korean War.
Prince was summoned to Buckingham Palace, where King George Vl presented him with the Canadian Military Medal and, on behalf of the president of the United States, the Silver Star with ribbon.
Prince was one of only three Canadians to receive both of those honours, according to Veterans Affairs Canada.
Canada Post issued a stamp honouring him in 2022. Many roads, schools and other institutions throughout the country bear his name today.
“A lot of people in our family never talked about their military service,” said Ledger.
“If you see a veteran, talk to them. Unfortunately, there’s not too many veterans left in Nunavut from the wars, but they have children. They have grandchildren. You can talk to them.”
An estimated 12,000 First Nations people, Métis and Inuit served in the major conflicts of the 20th century, and at least 500 died.
Those who returned to Canada were often denied access to full veteran benefits and support programs.
The Indigenous Veterans Day service in Iqaluit is scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 8, followed by the wreath-laying ceremony at 11 a.m.
Salute ! What an honor . Rip Mr Prince
Honored to have served in the CAF way back in the 70s. I have gone through Valour Road in Winnipeg few times, a street named in honor of Sargent Prince, R.I.P.