Mary Greyeyes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Greyeyes
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| Born | November 14, 1920 Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Reserve, Marcelin, Saskatchewan |
| Died | March 31, 2011 (aged 90) Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/ |
Canadian Women's Army Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Private |
| Service number | 6561 |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Spouse(s) | Alexander Reid |
| Children | Two |
| Relations | David Greyeyes Steele (brother) |
Mary Greyeyes Reid (born November 14, 1920 – died March 31, 2011) was a brave Canadian woman. She served in World War II. She was a Cree woman from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. Mary was the very first First Nations woman to join the Canadian Armed Forces.
In 1942, she joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC). A famous photo of her was taken to encourage others to join. She was sent to London, England, to help with the war effort. While there, she met important people like King George VI and Princess Elizabeth. Mary stayed in London until 1946, then returned to Canada.
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Mary Greyeyes' Early Life
Mary Greyeyes was born on November 14, 1920. Her home was the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation reserve in Marcelin, Saskatchewan. She had ten brothers and sisters. Her grandmother, Sarah Greyeyes, raised her.
When Mary was five, she went to the St. Michael's residential school in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. The school only taught up to grade 8. But Mary was eager to learn more. A nun at the school gave her extra lessons in the evenings. Mary also helped with cooking and cleaning during the day.
Joining the Canadian Forces
Why Mary Joined the Army
The Great Depression made it hard to find jobs. By the early 1940s, there was little work for young people on Mary's reserve. Her favorite brother, David Greyeyes, left to find work and support their family. In 1940, David joined the Canadian Army.
Mary decided to join too. She saw it as a great chance to learn new things and gain experience.
How Mary Enlisted
In June 1942, Mary went to Regina to take the army test. Some army groups only accepted white recruits. But the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) was open to all races. Mary worried her grade 8 education was not enough. However, she passed the CWAC test and was accepted!
Mary Greyeyes became the first First Nations woman to join the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Famous Photograph
Soon after joining, Mary was part of a special army photo. It showed her kneeling in her uniform. A man in Plains Cree Chief clothes appeared to give her a "blessing." This photo was meant to encourage more women to join the army.
A public relations officer named Louis LeBourdais often took photos of new recruits. In June 1942, Mary was asked to pose. Harry Ball, a Cree man and war veteran, dressed as a Chief for the photo. He was not a Chief at the time, but became one later. He had never met Mary before. Harry borrowed his clothes for the picture. He was paid $20, and Mary got a free lunch and a new uniform.
The photo was printed in newspapers like the Winnipeg Tribune. It then spread to England and appeared in many British newspapers.
For many years, the photo's caption was wrong. It said "Unidentified Indian princess getting blessing from her chief and father." Around 1995, Mary's daughter-in-law, Melanie Fahlman Reid, helped correct it. She told the Canadian War Museum the true story from Mary's memories.
Mary's Service Overseas
The CWAC trained women for support roles, not combat. They learned cooking, laundry, and office work. Mary was sent to Aldershot, England, to work at a laundry. She did not like this job and asked for a transfer. Her boss tried to stop her by writing "Does not speak English" on her papers. But Mary still got her transfer! She then worked as a cook at the war center in London.
Because of her famous photo, Mary became well-known in London. People called her "the Indian" who joined the army. She even received letters from strangers wanting to marry her. She met King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Elizabeth. Mary was photographed with many important people.
Mary sometimes faced racism in the army. But overall, she found her army experience positive. She later said those years were "the best days of her life." She enjoyed the attention from the famous photo. Her love for learning was clear to others. A fellow CWAC member remembered Mary as "a lovely young woman... who spent much of her spare time reading and studying."
A Second Photo Request
Near the end of the war, government officials asked Mary for another publicity photo. It was an election year. At that time, Indigenous people could not vote in Canadian elections. But Indigenous veterans were offered the chance to vote if they gave up their treaty rights.
Mary was asked to visit a polling station and have her picture taken while voting. But she refused. She pointed out how unfair the voting laws were: "So Mary says to them, she says, 'Can my mom vote?' And they said, 'No, she didn't fight in the war.' She said, 'Well, what about my cousins over there, can they vote?' And they said no. They said, 'C'mon Mary, you gotta come, we've got the photographer.' And she said, 'All those years, I said nothing. Now I'm saying no.'" It was not until 1960 that all First Nations people could vote in Canadian federal elections.
Life After the War
Mary continued working in London until 1946, when the war ended. Then she returned to Canada. She went back to the Muskeg Lake reserve to be with her family. She met her future husband, Alexander Reid, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
They moved to Victoria and had two children. Mary worked as a restaurant cook in Victoria. In the 1960s, her family moved to Vancouver. There, she found a job as a seamstress.
In August 1994, Mary attended a reunion for over 400 CWAC members. It was held in Vermilion, Alberta. She received a pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs for her service. In 2003, the Canadian government paid money to Mary and other surviving Indigenous veterans. This was to make up for how poorly their post-war benefits had been handled.
Mary Greyeyes' Death
Mary Greyeyes died on March 31, 2011, in Vancouver, British Columbia. She was 90 years old. Mary was buried on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation reserve.
