Name Mary Greyeyes | Died 2011 | |
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Mary Greyeyes-Reid (1920 – 2011) was the first woman of the First Nations to join the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. She was part of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and the subject of a photograph that was taken in 1942.
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Canadian forces
In 1942, Greyeyes-Reid was the first First Nations woman to join the Canadian Forces. She was featured in photographs to represent native people in the forces, and at the same time was not welcome in the barracks due to discrimination. Greyeyes-Reid worked in the laundry and as a cook while stationed in Aldershot, England.
The photograph
The title for the photograph still found in the Library and Archives Canada says, "Mary Greyeyes being blessed by her native Chief prior to leaving for service in the CWAC". The story of this image is told by Greyeyes-Reid's daughter-in-law and conflicts with the original title. According to Melanie Fahlman Reid, Greyeyes-Reid was offered a new uniform and a lunch to take part in this photo shoot set up by her sergeant and two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers. She goes on to explain that Harry Bull was at the time councillor for the reserve where the photo was taken and did not become chief until some time later. Greyeyes-Reid and Bull were not from the same area and did not know each other.