Anishinaabe war hero Sgt. Tommy Prince honoured at Winnipeg community centre

The City of Winnipeg unveiled a display Friday ina Dufferin neighbourhood community centre that honours the First Nations war hero the building is named after.

Visitors to Sergeant Tommy Prince Place on Sinclair Streetand Dufferin Avenue can see a series ofinterpretive displays depicting every stage of the decorated Anishinaabe soldier's life.

"It's important for everyone to understand what he did for his country and for his people," Prince's son, Tommy Prince Jr.,said at the unveiling on Friday.

The displays, an initiative of the municipal government, tell the story of how Prince was uprooted from his home on Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, about 65 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, sent to Elkhorn Residential School in western Manitoba, and showing bravery on the battlefield during the Second World War and the Korean War.

The displaysalso show the challenges Prince faced during his later life, when he endured the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and racismeven as he advocated to abolish the Indian Act, and promoted other initiatives to empower Indigenous people.

Brokenhead Chief Gordon Bluesky said at the unveiling that, although it's an honour to speak about a hero from his community, it highlights that the systemic issues that plagued Prince and ultimately led to his deathcontinue to claim lives.

"We still have homelessness, we still have women and children who are scared It's important that we keep his spirit alive," Bluesky said.

The display was initially recommended by Winnipeg's Indigenous relations division in a report to city council's executive policy committee in November of 2021.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillinghamsaid he hopes the displays help people in the city learn more about Prince's contributions to society and move those efforts forward.

"There's so much work yet to do to fulfil the principles Mr. Prince fought for on the battlefield and in Parliament," he said.

"Acknowledging Indigenous heroes andcommunity builders like Sgt. Tommy Princeis just one smallbut very important step in our city's commitment to journey together and tojourneyforward in reconciliation."

Gillingham hopes everyone, especially those who live in the North End and make use of the community centre, are inspired by Prince's influence.

Prince Jr. says his father's legacy is one he tries to follow: "Try to move forward, try to make the proper steps in society, and fight for our people," he said.

This display comes after Canada Post unveiled a new stamp honouring Prince in October.