NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA PARKS
*************************************
Niagara Parks was proud to host the annual Valour and Victory: Honouring Indigenous Veterans ceremony, inviting the community to gather at the Landscape of Nations Memorial in Queenston Heights Park on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
Held ahead of Indigenous Veterans Day on Nov. 8, the annual event commemorates the dedication and service of Indigenous veterans and helps to foster a deeper understanding of the vital role of Indigenous peoples in shaping Canadian history.
This year marks the eighth anniversary of the Landscape of Nations Memorial and included a special plaque unveiling ceremony led by representatives of Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) honouring the national historic significance of Teyoninhokarawen (John Norton).
Norton, a remarkable historic figure of Cherokee and Scottish descent, became a prominent diplomat, military leader, and interlocutor for the Six Nations of the Grand River during the War of 1812. At the entry to the Landscape of Nations Memorial, there are two statues that depict Teyoninhokarawen (John Norton) and Ahyonwaeghs (John Brant), the son of renowned 18th-century Mohawk leader Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant). Both men were Indigenous war captains who led allied forces at the Battle of Queenston Heights. The new federal plaque further explains the significance of Teyoninhokarawen (John Norton) and his contributions throughout this pivotal time in Canada’s history.
The ceremony included remarks from prominent Indigenous community members and representatives from Niagara Parks and Parks Canada and HSMBC. Indigenous veterans Wendy Jocko and Rick Mt. Pleasant were recognized before the ceremony was turned over to Parks Canada and the HSMBC for the official plaque unveiling portion, which included remarks by representatives of the two organizations, along with Designation Proponent Richard Merritt and an Honour Song by Phil Davis. The program concluded with a moment of silence and cannon fire by the 2nd Lincoln Artillery, a wreath laying and sacred fire ceremony.
Explore the Niagara
The annual Valour and Victory event is reflective of Niagara Parks’ ongoing commitment to reconciliation, education, and the preservation of Indigenous history along the 56-kilometre Niagara River corridor. Explore the Niagara is a collaborative initiative between Niagara Parks, Parks Canada, the Town of Fort Erie, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, to share the stories and experiences that set this region apart, spanning themes of Indigenous connections, Black history, nation-building, nature and active living. To learn more, visit exploretheniagara.com.
Quotes
“Once again, Niagara Parks was honoured to host the annual Valour & Victory: Honouring Indigenous Veterans ceremony at the Landscape of Nations Memorial at Queenston Heights Park. The memorial itself, this annual ceremony and now the new federal plaque dedicated to Teyoninhokarawen (John Norton), all serve to help share the important story of Indigenous peoples as Canada’s first allies and the crucial role they played in the birth of our nation,” said Niagara Parks Chair Bob Gale.
“As we honour the bravery and sacrifices of Indigenous veterans, we are reminded of the profound contributions Teyoninhokarawen made to the nations’ histories” said Will Bouma, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Reconciliation. “First Nations veterans will always be an integral part of our shared histories, and we must be sure that their stories inform our future – commemorative acts like this one ensure they will.”
“That we gather at this historic site more than two centuries after the last shots were fired is evidence of the solemn power of memory and the endurance of relations established among our peoples,” said Tim Johnson, Senior Advisor to Niagara Parks.
*************************************
