Francis Pegahmagabow

Francis Pegahmagabow
Francis Pegahmagabow shortly after World War I
Nickname(s)"Peggy"[1]
Born(1891-03-09)March 9, 1891
Parry Sound, Ontario
DiedAugust 5, 1952(1952-08-05) (aged 61)
Parry Sound, Ontario
AllegianceCanada
Service / branchCanadian Expeditionary Force
Years of service1914–1919[1]
RankWarrant Officer
Battles / warsFirst World War
Awards
Other work
  • Chief of Wasauksing First Nation (1921–25 and 1942–45)
  • Tribal councillor (1933–36)
  • Supreme chief of the Native Independent Government

Francis Pegahmagabow MM & two bars (/ˌpɛɡəˈmæɡəb/ peg-ə-MAG-ə-boh; March 9, 1891 – August 5, 1952) was an Ojibwe soldier, politician and activist in Canada. He was the most highly decorated Indigenous soldier in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of the First World War. Three times awarded the Military Medal and seriously wounded, he was an expert marksman and scout, credited with killing 378 Germans and capturing 300 more.[2] Later in life, he served as chief and a councillor for the Wasauksing First Nation, and as an activist and leader in several First Nations organizations. He corresponded with and met other noted aboriginal figures including Fred Loft, Jules Sioui, Andrew Paull and John Tootoosis.