Francis Pegahmagabow, unsung WW I hero, to get overdue recognition

The most decorated First Nations soldier in the history of the Canadian military will get the recognition he never received in his lifetime.

A life-size bronze statue of Francis Pegahmagabow, a little knownhero of the First World War,will be erected in Parry Sound, Ont., in the spring of 2016.

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The initiative, announced today in Parry Sound, is supported by members of Pegahmagabows family and Wasauksing First Nation, along with the Town of Parry Sound, author Joseph Boydenand sculptor Tyler Fauvelle.

"I want the work to be noble, to show that the spiritual traditions of his people sustained him through the otherworld of war,"Fauvelle saidin a news release.

"It was very momentous for me, to know that this is going to happen. Its something we can go to in this areaand share with other people as well,"said Pegahmagabows granddaughter, Theresa McInnes,about the announcement.

Wasauksing First Nation, where McInnes serves on band council, is a 15-minute drive from Parry Sound. McInnes says that even though the sculpture isnt up yet, the support from town council, and the publicity the project has received, has already created more awareness of her grandfathers legacy in the region.

WW I herofaced poverty and persecution

As a sniperin the First World War, Pegahmagabow was deadly accurate, and although difficult to substantiate, he was credited with 378 kills, as well as the capture of 300 prisoners. The Ojibwayfrom the Wasauksing First Nationreturned a hero, but it wouldnt last.

"When he was in uniform, he was considered an equal... by what he could do. When he came back, he just went back to being an Indian. Indians at that time were not even Canadian citizens. They were treated like children and the Indian agents wanted him to basically sit back and shut up and not say anything,"said Adrian Hayes, the author of the definitive biography of Pegahmagabow.

Despite that, Pegahmagabow was chief of his band, always sending letters to Ottawa even to the prime minister demanding better treatment. Eventually he helped to form some of the first national native-rights movements in Canada.The war hero faced poverty and persecution, usually at the hands of Indian agents who controlled even his pensionand seemed to block every attempt he made to get ahead.

In 2006, over 80years after he served, the military finally decided to recognize him, erecting a monument at CFB Bordenand, with full military honours, namingthe building of the 3rdCanadian Ranger Patrol group after him.

In Parry Sound, In addition to the bronze sculpture, there are plans to produce an educational video about Pegahmagabowand Aboriginal Peoples military service to Canada.

"I know his last surviving son and daughter would be proud, if they were still here today, because they worked so hard for something like this to happen,"McInnes said.