Virginia Pechawis, one of the oldest female Indigenous veterans in the province has died, FSIN announced. (Submitted)

By paNOW staff

Virginia Pechawis

Indigenous WWII veteran passes away at 96

Feb 3, 2023 | 2:53 PM

Indigenous veteran Virginia Pechawis (Bird) has died, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations announced Friday.

Pechawis was one of Saskatchewan’s oldest female Indigenous Veterans and served in WWII after joining in the Canadian Army in Prince Albert.

“It is with great sadness that the SFNVA announce the passing of a very special person, Late WWII SFNVA Veteran Virginia Pechawis,” the organization announced on social media.

Pechawis died on Thursday; three days short of her 97^th birthday.

She left Mistawasis at age 18, travelling to Prince Albert where she told the recruiting officer that signing up was a “good chance to get away from the reserve”, a place she had not left before enlisting.

Health alerts

Sask NDP sound alarm over TB cases in northern Saskatchewan

9h ago

PYSANKY EASTER EGGS

"It's special to pass this on": Saskatchewan family celebrates Ukrainian Easter heritage

9h ago

Death Cafe

Death with a side of cake: Discussion group aims to open conversation about dying

10h ago

From there, she went to Regina and then on to Quebec City before completing basic training in Kitchener, Ont.

Training was difficult but rewarding, and she was then sent to the Valcartier Military Base for the next 13 months.

She was asked how it was and replied “I didn’t mind it too much. After I got used to it, I liked it”, the FSIN wrote.

Leaving the military after 18 months of service, Virginia chose to continue exploring other places and worked on a ship out of Quebec that transported lumber to the US.

When Pechawis returned to Saskatchewan, she went back home to Mistawasis First Nation. She was allotted a small piece of land for her time served in the Army. Pechawis always said, “the land that they gave us was ours in the first place.”

Pechawis signed up for the army in 1944, at the age of eighteen. Virginia didn’t speak much about her time in the war, but it made her an important part of Saskatchewan’s First Nation’s history.

In 2014, her war contribution was honoured with a Military Service Pin from the Lieutenant Governor and is considered a symbol of the Crown’s gratitude for service with honour and valour.

“Thank you for your service, Veteran we will certainly miss your guidance and your beautiful smile, may you rest in peace,” said FSIN.

Family members will announce funeral details when they are available.

—