Oliver Martin Indigenous Veteran

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Oliver Martin

Colour photo of a semi-detached brick townhouse. It has a mix of old and new windows. Beside it is another townhouse of a different style. Further behind it is a psot-modern style high-rise condominium. In the background is a blue sky. — Oliver Martin’s last known home address. Heritage Toronto, 2020.

Oliver Martin’s last known home address. Heritage Toronto, 2020.

Black and white photo of six soldiers, three seated and three standing behind them. They are in uniform and their boots are muddied. They are all numbered with the names of the numbered individuals written along the outside of the card. 1. Lieut. O.M. Martin, Ohs, Mohawk 2. " A.L Cavanaugh. Winnepeg "Irish" 3. " H. Dawson, Montreal "Scotch" 4. Lieut. F Riley, Kamloops "Irish" 5. " S.V Smith, Winnepeg "English" 6. J.D. Moses"Smooth Town" Delaware — Lieutenants of the the 107th Battalion, “Timberwolf” Battalion. July 1917, Courtesy of John Moses.

Lieutenants of the the 107th Battalion, “Timberwolf” Battalion. July 1917, Courtesy of John Moses.

Sepia tone photo of three Indigenous men sitting next to each other. Behind them is the Union Jack flag and a photo backdrop of an office like setting. The men are wearing suits and appear to be holding ceremonial items in their laps. The man on the left has a sad expression while the other two look stern and angry, — Studio portrait taken in July 1882 of the surviving Six Nations warriors who fought with the British in the War of 1812. (R to L: John Smoke Johnson, John Tutela, and Young Warner), 1882. Courtesy of Library and Archives Canada.

Studio portrait taken in July 1882 of the surviving Six Nations warriors who fought with the British in the War of 1812. (R to L: John Smoke Johnson, John Tutela, and Young Warner), 1882. Courtesy of

Image of a bear carved inside a circle on a square piece of stone. — Grave marker symbol of the bear created by Cree Artist Jason Carter for the Last Post Fund’s Indigenous Veterans Initiative.

Grave marker symbol of the bear created by Cree Artist Jason Carter for the Last Post Fund’s Indigenous Veterans Initiative.

Oliver Milton Martin (1893-1957) from Six Nations of the Grand River was the first Indigenous person to be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in Canada’s military service, and the first to be appointed provincial magistrate. Having served the Canadian army in both world wars, the Mohawk soldier was the highest-ranked Indigenous person in the Canadian military. He was also the first Indigenous person to hold a judicial post in Ontario.

The Royal Canadian Legion No. 345 in East York was named the Brigadier O.M. Martin Branch in his honour. He is buried in the veteran’s section of the Pine Hills Cemetery in Scarborough.

Throughout Canada’s history, Indigenous individuals have frequently served in the armed forces. For the first and second world wars combined, it is estimated over 7,000 Indigenous people served in uniform. Despite their service, many Indigenous members of Canada’s military were denied rights and benefits conferred to white veterans.

Today, there are many Indigenous veterans who rest in unmarked graves, or whose graves do not adhere to their community’s traditional cultural values. The Indigenous Veterans Initiative with the Last Post Fund provides grave markers to deceased Indigenous veterans who are buried without a gravestone.

The Initiative also provides grave markers with traditional names and culturally relevant symbols from the Seven Sacred Teachings animals. The grave markers, representing Wisdom, Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Humility, and Truth, were created by Cree artist Jason Carter.

Today, there are many family members of Indigenous veterans who cannot locate and visit their loved ones’ graves. The Indigenous Veterans Initiative is consistent with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (43-44) regarding Indigenous rights and reconciliation, by advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples after they have died.

The Initiative also supports TRC Call to Action 13 regarding language rights, in recognizing the importance of enabling Indigenous veterans to rest in ways consistent with traditional cultural language and values.

November 8 is Indigenous Veterans Day in Canada.

Additional Resources:

The Seven Sacred Teachings

Last Post Fund’s Indigenous Veterans Initiative

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