War of 1812french

Gail Valaskakis, Canadian Historian

Further Reading

First Nations

Index of Historians

The role played by First Nations in the War of 1812 and the sad aftermath

I feel, having really read a great deal, reflected upon the War of 1812 and the role that native people have played in it, particularly proud of that role that native people played. I really feel a sense of pride, in fact, in regard to the role that native people have played in this war, and in regard to the role that native people have played in the formation of Canada. I feel at the same time extremely sad by the fact that, after the War of 1812, native people from then on are just not important in regard to the British or the Americans. And it's at that point that their fortunes, which you might have thought if you read the War of 1812 and read the battles and the history, were very poor. Their fortunes are much poorer indeed after the War of 1812. They're not important to anyone, they are shifted off to reservations, settlers flood into both countries, and there is no hope that they will ever have a united Indian nation built of many different tribes. And that's a very, very sad thing.

At the same time, one has to feel, as a person with a native heritage, a connection to the kind of absolute grace and brilliance and strategic ability and intelligence and openness and ethical behavior that Tecumseh reflects in his behavior throughout the war. And I think it's remarkably inspirational for people today. Not romanticizing a life that wasn't very romantic - his life was battle after battle - it was hardship in regard to family not being with you a great deal of the time, in regard to the fact that you couldn't have access to food on a ready basis because the Americans were absolutely grand masters at burning corn crops and making it difficult for people to hunt, almost impossible. And winter was not a season that was easy for Indians in the best of times. And this was the worst of times. And they're moving all the time, all the time.

So it wasn't an easy life and I don't romanticize that at all. But there was a vision, and it was a vision that was shared all the way from the tip of Lake Superior down to the tip of Florida. Not by everyone, but by many, many people. And that vision had to do with a greater native nation than we will ever see because of what happened in the War of 1812.