John Norton and the War of 1812

Canada is a country so vast that too often, it seems, its history is lost inside its geography. A striking example is the history of Indigenous peoples, whose long, rich narrative is well-preserved by them, but seldom gets the same attention on a broader scale — even when their stories affect us all.

Consider Mohawk chief John Norton’s role in the pivotal Battle of Queenston Heights during the War of 1812. Without the efforts of Norton and about 80 Grand River warriors in repelling more than 1,000 American soldiers, the battle might have been lost, and the tide of war turned. [MORE]