Fred Loft facts for kids
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Frederick Ogilvie Loft (born February 3, 1861 – died 1934) was a very important Mohawk leader. His Mohawk name was Onondeyoh. He is famous for starting the League of Indians of Canada. Many people remember him as one of the most important Indigenous activists of his time.
Frederick Loft also fought in World War I. He helped encourage other people to join the army. He was a tall man, about 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall, and weighed around 170 pounds (77 kg).
Early Life and Work
Frederick Loft, also known as Onondeyoh, was born into a Christian Mohawk family. His name Onondeyoh means "Beautiful Mountain" in the Mohawk language. He grew up in the Six Nations of the Grand River. His parents spoke both English and Mohawk fluently. They strongly encouraged him to get a good education from a young age.
He went to high school and trained to become a bookkeeper. But he found it hard to get a job in that field. So, he worked many different jobs. He became well-known as a reporter for the Brantford Expositor newspaper. He only worked there for less than six months. However, during this time, Loft became very interested in issues affecting Indigenous peoples. He believed strongly in fair treatment for them.
Loft took these ideas with him to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto was different from cities like Montreal or Vancouver. It did not have nearby Indigenous reserves. This meant people there had fewer dealings with Indigenous issues. Loft wanted stronger, more independent First Nations groups in Toronto. He suggested that the Ojibwa and Iroquois people should work together. He shared these ideas with the Toronto Globe newspaper, but nothing came of it.
This did not stop Loft from being active in politics. In Toronto, he was in a special position. He was educated, spoke English well, and came from a well-off family. This helped him keep pushing for his ideas and make important friends. Before World War I, Loft did not get a high political job. But he made many friends and met his wife, Affa Geara. He also became well known to many groups working with Indigenous relations and reserves. He served in the Canadian Militia before joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force in February 1917. He was a lieutenant and served in France during the war. He returned to Canada in April 1918.
After the War and His Legacy
World War I ended in 1918. Unlike other soldiers, Indigenous veterans were handled by the Department of Indian Affairs. This department often struggled to properly support the returning men. This is when Loft strongly pushed for the idea of the League of Indians. He was a key member and helped greatly in its creation.
Loft hoped that if Indigenous peoples across Canada worked together, they could protect their rights. He also wanted them to work with the government. This would help create better unity between the government and Indigenous peoples. Loft believed that staying separate was hurting their rights.
He had support from important Indigenous leaders. However, after World War I, it seemed Loft was almost keeping the League going by himself. He constantly had to work against the Department of Indian Affairs. This department often refused his requests to speak directly to Parliament. They also did not pay for the work the League was trying to do.
It became clear that the League depended heavily on Loft. When his health started to fail, the League also began to struggle. He tried one last time to work around the Department of Indian Affairs. But he failed again and quickly became very ill. The League declined as his health worsened.
Frederick Loft died in Toronto in 1934. His daughters carried on his memory. His big efforts to bring rights to Indigenous peoples were very important. The dream of making the League of Indians a strong force mostly ended without his leadership. As historian John L. Taylor said, Loft was "a man born before his time." He did not have enough resources to keep his organization going. He was nearly 60 when he started, and he had to work full-time to support his family. One person could not do all that was needed.
Even though his own League did not last, it inspired later groups to work for similar goals. It was a very important step for organizations like the Assembly of First Nations, which was formed in 1978. It also inspired many other smaller Indigenous groups in different provinces.
Honors
In 2020, Frederick Loft was one of eight people considered for the new $5 polymer bills in Canada.
