They tried to kill his language, his culture. Canada tried to take everything. Still, he signed up to fight for Canada.
Checker Tomkins became a secret weapon.
England, 1942.
The Americans are looking for Canadian soldiers fluent in Cree to create a new means of transmitting secret messages.
Armed with the words of his grandparents, Checker implements a code never broken by the Nazis.
Attached to U.S. Eighth Army Air Force, Checker transmits messages about troop movements, supply lines, and bombing runs.
Some words didn’t exist in Cree, so he improvised.
Spitfire = iskotew "fire"
Mustang = pakwatastim “wild horse"
B17 = amo tepakohposâp “bee"
In Canada, priests and nuns punished children for speaking Cree.
Checker's brother, Frank, told their father about the abuse. School staff found out and beat Frank.
Please read about what happened in that place Canada called school: ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/upl…
Despite Canada trying to take everything from them, Checker and his brothers signed up to fight for Canada.
As veterans, they didn’t receive the same benefits as others.
Sworn to secrecy about his code talking, he told his family just a few years before his death. When word spread about his role, the Smithsonian asked to interview him.
Smithsonian: “How would you describe yourself?”
Checker: “I am a nice-looking man!”
“I love my country and I’ve done everything they asked me to do."
Please understand what he endured.
Please understand what he survived.
The Second World War. Canada.
Please remember Charles “Checker” Tomkins.
"He was a great man, gave his heart.”
Remember the Cree Code Talker.
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