British Allies Further Reading American Allies: A First Nations Perspective

A First Nations Perspective The First Nations first became involved in Canada's wars in 1609 when a group of Algonquins, Hurons and Montagnais joined forces with Samuel de Champlain. Throughout the 18th century, First Nations people fought alongside European soldiers on numerous occasions. For instance, Britain called on its native allies to help suppress the rebellious colonists during the American Revolution. After America achieved independence, the British government provided regular assistance to native tribes such as the Shawnee, Wyandot, Delaware, Miami and Potawatomis, all of whom lived on territories that were coveted by the United States. When America declared war on Britain in 1812, the native people were invited to Fort Amherstburg and other British posts to receive presents of food, clothing, guns, and ammunition. Although the British never incited native people to attack American settlements, they did encourage native people to resist American expansionism. After all, the American expansion policy threatened not only the First Nations way of life, but the British fur trade and Canadian territory as well. Yet Britain's attitude towards her native allies was often fickle. Following the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, many native warriors retreating from U.S. General Anthony Wayne's forces were killed when the British denied them entry into Fort Miami. The First Nations were outraged by this betrayal because British agents had given them supplies and had encouraged them to stand firm in the face of American resistance. In 1807, the American public was up in arms about the Chesapeake affair - an incident in which the British Navy openly flouted American sovereignty and maritime rights. When the British recognized that this conflict could escalate into military action, they immediately looked to their native allies for assistance. Likewise, when tensions escalated again in 1812, Major General Isaac Brock recognized that native warriors were essential to the defense of Canada. After only lukewarm reaction to his appeals for help, Brock was determined to achieve some early victories in order to convince First Nations that the British really were "earnestly engaged in the war."