Chief joe dreaver biography sample

886518 Corporal Joseph Dreaver Sr, MM was born on 2 June 1891 in Mistawasis, Saskatchewan, the son of George Dreaver. Joseph Dreaver was the great, great-grandson of Cree Chief Mistawasis who was the first Chief to sign Treaty No. 6 in 1876. Joseph was the last hereditary Chief of the Mistawasis First Nation.

He was married to Evelyn Cardinal. They had 4 sons and 2 daughters who enlisted in the Second World War. His son, Sergeant Harvey Dreaver, Regina Rifles Regiment, landed on D-Day and was later killed in action on 6 October 1944 during an assault at the Leopold Canal in Belgium.

In 1916 Joseph (occupation farmer), aged 24, and his younger brother Frank Nickle (engineer), aged 23 enlisted in the First World War. An older brother, William Fredrick (farmer), aged 33 enlisted in 1917. All three brothers were part of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force.

Dreaver enlisted with the 107th Battalion, CEF (and engineering battalion) on 26 March 1916 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and proceeded overseas with the Battalion. He was promoted to Corporal in July 1917. On 29 May 1918, Dreaver was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, CEF. On 6 April 1919, he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery during the crossing of the Canal du Nord, France in September 1918. [Some references also suggest it was awarded for action in Ypres.]

While in England, Joseph had served under Captain John Diefenbaker, future Prime Minister of Canada. They remained friends for life, and Joseph helped him during his campaign efforts.

This portrait, taken in between the two wars, shows Joseph wearing all of his medals. Joseph received the Military Medal in 1918. Of the three brothers to go to war, only Joseph had survived. Pte. Frank Nickle was killed in action at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. Pte. William Fredrick was wounded in action at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and died from his wounds shortly after returning home.

When the Second World War broke out, Dreaver left his farm and drove 17 men from his reserve north of Leask, Saskatchewan, to Saskatoon to enlist. Three of the men were his own sons. Two of his daughters also served, and a younger brother went overseas as well. At 48, the chief himself was past the age for overseas service. He remained in Canada with the Veterans Guard, watching over prisoners of war in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Dreaver died on 10 February 1978 and is buried in the Mistawasis Presbyterian Cemetery, Mistawasis, North Battleford, Saskatchewan. He was still serving on the Senate of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians formed in 1972.