1886What is considered the first memorial erected to the memory of an Indigenous person in Canada?
The Joseph Brant Memorial Statue in Burlington, Ontario, stands as the first memorial erected in Canada to honour an Indigenous person, Captain Joseph Brant, also known as Thayendanegea. Celebrated for his military leadership during the Seven Years’ War and the American Revolutionary War, Brant was also a highly respected diplomat and Principal Chief of the Six Nations. This impressive bronze statue was unveiled on October 13, 1886, by Ontario's Lieutenant Governor John Beverley Robinson and rededicated in 2000, marking its enduring significance in how Indigenous histories are publicly commemorated. Today, the memorial continues to inspire reflection on both the legacy of Captain Brant and the evolving ways in which we honor Indigenous leaders.
