1889Which highly decorated Canadian Indigenous soldier is regarded as the most effective sniper of the First World War?
Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow, an Ojibwa from the Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound, Ontario, is recognized as the most effective sniper of the First World War and one of Canada’s most highly decorated Indigenous soldiers. Renowned for his exceptional marksmanship and bravery, Pegahmagabow is credited with 378 confirmed kills and the capture of 300 enemy soldiers—an unparalleled record among Allied forces. Despite being wounded twice and awarded the Military Medal with two bars for acts of heroism, he remained a humble figure, later dedicating his life to Indigenous rights and leadership. His remarkable legacy is honoured today across Canada, including a memorial cairn built from Parry Island river rocks and the naming of a Canadian Ranger building in his memory.
