By Myriam Brenner, FSWC Education Program Coordinator‍

Around 12,000 Indigenous soldiers from Canada served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Many of them came from hunting communities where their ability to keep still for extended periods, camouflage themselves and exceptional marksmanship made them exceptional snipers and reconnaissance scouts in the Canadian army.

One of the most well-known snipers was Henry Norwest. Born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta on May 1, 1884, Norwest, was of French Cree ancestry. He was a rodeo performer and a ranch hand who enlisted in January 1915 under the name of “Henry Louie.” His career was short-lived as he was discharged for bad behaviour after three months. This did not deter Norwest from serving, and eight months later, he signed up again under a different name.

At the Battle of Amiens in northern France, while Allied forces were advancing, Norwest achieved a sniping record while destroying enemy machine-gun posts. On August 18, only three months before the end of the war, he was killed while looking for a group of enemy snipers.

Norwest was remembered as a hero by his battalion. He achieved a sniping record of 115 fatal shots and was given the double award of the Military Medal and bar (thin metal bar attached to medal indicating the campaign recipient is receiving the award for), making him one of 830 soldiers to receive this double honour.

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/video-gallery/video/11299