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Tommy Prince

Tommy Prince (Thomas George Prince) was an Indigenous Canadian soldier and First Nations rights advocate from Manitoba.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tommy Prince (Thomas George Prince) was an Indigenous Canadian soldier and First Nations rights advocate from Manitoba. He served in the Second World War and the Korean War and became Canada’s most-decorated Indigenous war veteran, receiving 11 medals for bravery and service.

Early life

Tommy Prince was born in Petersfield, Manitoba, and was a member of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. He came from a family connected to First Nations leadership in Manitoba.

Military career

Prince enlisted in 1940 and served in the Royal Canadian Engineers, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, and the First Special Service Force, a joint Canadian-American commando unit. He later served in Korea with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Honours and recognition

He received 11 medals in total, including the Military Medal and the U.S. Silver Star. In 2019, Parks Canada designated him a National Historic Person.

Indigenous rights advocacy

After the war, Prince became an outspoken advocate for First Nations rights in Manitoba and nationally. He urged changes to federal policy and testified about treaty rights and the Indian Act.

Later life and legacy

Prince died in Winnipeg in 1977. He is remembered as a major figure in Canadian military history and Indigenous political advocacy.

Key facts

  • Tommy Prince is Canada’s most-decorated Indigenous war veteran, with 11 medals.
  • He served in elite units during the Second World War and the Korean War.
  • He was awarded the Military Medal and the U.S. Silver Star for bravery.
  • After the war, he advocated for First Nations rights and criticized the Indian Act.
  • He was designated a National Historic Person of Canada in 2019.
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Canadian context

Tommy Prince is an important figure in Canadian military history and in the history of Indigenous activism in Canada. His life is especially relevant to Manitoba and to First Nations readers because he was a Manitoba-born Brokenhead Ojibway Nation veteran and advocate.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Tommy Prince?
Tommy Prince was an Indigenous Canadian soldier from Manitoba and a First Nations rights advocate. He served in the Second World War and the Korean War.
Why is Tommy Prince famous?
He is famous as Canada’s most-decorated Indigenous war veteran, with 11 medals for military service and bravery.
What units did Tommy Prince serve with?
He served with the Royal Canadian Engineers, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, the First Special Service Force, and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
What honours did Tommy Prince receive?
His honours included the Military Medal and the U.S. Silver Star, along with multiple campaign and service medals.
Did Tommy Prince advocate for Indigenous rights?
Yes. After the war, he publicly advocated for treaty rights, First Nations equality, and changes to federal Indian policy.
Was Tommy Prince officially recognized by Canada?
Yes. Parks Canada designated Thomas George “Tommy” Prince as a National Historic Person in 2019.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tommy-Prince
    Supports: Birth and death details; Brokenhead Ojibway Nation; 11 medals; status as a decorated Indigenous war veteran.
  2. Veterans Affairs Canada — https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/people-and-stories/tommy-prince
    Supports: Canada’s most-decorated Indigenous war veteran; 11 medals; service in elite units; Military Medal and U.S. Silver Star; Korean War medals.
  3. Parks Canada — https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/personnage-person/tommy-prince
    Supports: National Historic Person designation; military service; Indigenous rights advocacy; role in First Nations interests in Manitoba.
  4. Government of Manitoba — https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/plaques/plaq0958.html
    Supports: Born in Petersfield; enlistment; military units; medals; Korean War service; postwar advocacy.
  5. Manitoba Historical Society — https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/prince_t.shtml
    Supports: Biography, military service, postwar advocacy, death, and burial details.