Artifact #4

Indigenous WWI Nurse: Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture

This photograph is of Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, she was born April 10, 1890, in Six Nations reserve in Ontario. Her ancestry is Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk) and is known as the first Canadian Indigenous woman to become a registered nurse. In the early 1900’s the Indian Act prevented Indigenous Canadians from pursuing post-secondary education. Despite the barriers, Edith was determined to become a nurse, so moved to the United-States to attend New Rochelle nursing school in New York and received her degree in 1914. Edith volunteered with the US Army Nursing Corps alongside thirteen other Canadian nurses. She was given her Indigenous Mohawk burial clothing due to the high risk of death within medical frontline work. Monture was stationed in Buffalo Base Hospital 23 in Vittel, France and often treated gunshot wounds and gas related injuries. She wrote in her diary about searching the battlefields for injured soldiers and working long difficult hours. Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture’s story displays her bravery and determination, which broke many barriers for Indigenous women, and Canadian women in war.  

 Bibliography

Canada, Veterans Affairs. “Nurse Overseas.” Native Soldiers - Foreign Battlefields - Aboriginal-Canadian Veterans - Remembering those who served - Remembrance - Veterans Affairs Canada, February 14, 2019. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/those-who-served/aboriginal-veterans/native-soldiers/nurse.