Peter Edmund Jones facts for kids
Peter Edmund Jones (born October 30, 1843 – died June 29, 1909) was an important leader of the Mississauga Ojibwa people. He was a chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. In the Ojibwe language, he was known as Kahkewaquonaby, a name he shared with his father.
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Early Life and Education
Peter Edmund Jones was the third child of Peter Jones and Eliza Field. He was born in London, Canada West. He grew up at the Muncey Mission and later in Brantford. He received his early education from a private teacher and then attended Brantford Grammar School.
Even though he was one-quarter Indigenous, he was mostly raised in a Western style. Jones studied medicine at the Toronto School of Medicine and then at Queen's College. He earned his medical degree from Queen's in 1866. He is known as the first Status Indian person to become a doctor in Canada.
A Doctor and Community Leader
After becoming a doctor, Peter Edmund Jones moved to Hagersville, Ontario. He started his medical practice in New Credit. He also became very involved in politics, both within his community and outside of it.
He was elected as a chief of New Credit from 1874 to 1877, and again from 1880 to 1886. He worked with the Conservative Party of Canada to fight for more rights for Indigenous people. He wanted Indigenous communities to have more control over their own affairs.
Although he didn't fully succeed in all his political goals, he was appointed as the Indian Agent for New Credit in 1887. He held this important position until 1896.
Editor of The Indian
Peter Edmund Jones also used his skills to help his community through writing. He edited a journal called The Indian. This journal was made for Indigenous people and was published from 1885 to 1886. It had a total of 24 issues.
The Indian was very special because it was the first Canadian journal for Indigenous people that was edited by an Indigenous person. It was sent to Indian reserves all across Ontario, helping to share information and ideas among Indigenous communities.
Bridging Cultures
Like his father, Peter Edmund Jones lived in a way that connected two different cultures: the Indigenous people of Canada and the European settlers. He married an English woman named Charlotte Dixon. He planned to raise any children they had in the Ojibwe traditions.
Jones was determined to keep his Indian status. At that time, the Indian Department often encouraged educated Indigenous people to give up their status. However, Jones refused to do so, showing his strong connection to his heritage.
Peter Edmund Jones passed away in Hagersville, Ontario, in 1909.
