Rebranding Canada with Comics: Canada 1812: Forged in Fire and the Continuing Co-optation of Tecumseh

By Sean Carleton
PhD Candidate
Frost Centre for Canadian Studies & Indigenous Studies
Trent University

Introduction
The Continuing Co-optation of Tecumseh
“My name is Tecumseh”: Race and Representation in Canada 1812
Conclusions: Comics, Colonialism, and Canadian History

Introduction
In the current age of austerity, the Harper Government allocated over $28 million to commemorate the 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812. For many historians this proved to be an unpopular decision. It even drew the ire of the much-maligned Jack Granatstein, who pointed out, “This is also a government that’s slashing the national archives dramatically and killing the national library by cuts. On the one hand they’re good for history and on the other hand they’re bad for history—you sometimes wonder if they really know what they are doing.”[1]

While historians are right to critique the controversial costs of the bicentennial celebrations in light of cuts to crucial public services, it is important to understand the government’s commemorative project as part of a more pernicious strategy of nation-building that historians Ian McKay and Jamie Swift identify as the “rebranding” of Canada as a “warrior nation.”[2] In short, McKay and Swift contend that today there is a concerted right-wing effort to use the power of the state to “change how we think about our country and its history.”[3] More specifically, they argue that “new warriors” are trying to rebrand Canada as a country “created by wars, defended by soldiers, and kept free by patriotic support of military virtues.”[4] Canada’s history wars, then, are far from over.

In the case of the War of 1812’s bicentennial, the Harper Government pulled out all the stops to use the celebration as a rebranding opportunity. The commemorative project included a new national monument, a television commercial, and even a cell phone application, all showcasing the War of 1812 as a “defining moment” in what the Prime Minister called the “Fight for Canada.” Yet, this paper focuses on one aspect of the commemoration that received no critical attention: the representations of Indigenous peoples, and specifically of Tecumseh, in a free comic book called Canada 1812: Forged in Fire. The comic book was funded by the federal government and produced by High Fidelity HDTV in partnership with Parks Canada, Zeroes 2 Heroes Media, Bell Canada, and the Smithsonian Channel as part of a multi-media project.[5] Canada 1812 will appeal to a broad public audience that will no doubt enjoy digging through the free comic book. However, like the other War of 1812 commemorative initiatives, Canada 1812, and especially its portrayal of Tecumseh, is a problematic “rebranding” of history to serve a nation-building agenda that must be critiqued and challenged.

The 142 page comic book traces the stories of six individuals—Isaac Brock, Charles de Salaberry, Laura Secord, John Norton, Enos Collins, and Tecumseh—who are all portrayed as distinctly Canadian heroes because of the pivotal roles they played in forging “Canada” out of the flames of the War of 1812.[6] Canada 1812 memorializes these individuals in six separate stories, extoling each figure’s various virtues such as courage, bravery, and patriotism. The comic book opens with a hero-worshiping story of British military general Isaac Brock and the first panel of the first page depicts him as simplistically stating, “War is coming. Good.”[7] Similarly, the story of Laura Secord is full of stereotypical tropes about gender, race, and the nation, the likes of which have been expertly examined by Colin M. Coates and Cecilia Morgan.[8] As the work of Coates and Morgan suggests, it is important for historians to spark critical conversations about the ways in which past figures are used by different groups to reinforce troubling narratives that legitimize colonialism and Canadian nation-building. In hopes of sparking such a conversation about Canada 1812, I will more closely examine the representations of Indigenous peoples in the comic book, specifically the depiction of Shawnee chief Tecumseh.

In this article, I argue that Canada 1812 is a prime example of how people manufacture and manipulate the image of Tecumseh for the purposes of Canadian nation-building, a process that historian Robin Jarvis Brownlie has recently labelled the “co-optation” of Tecumseh.[9] Despite his inclusion in the comic book to show a sort of multi-cultural coming together to defend Canada, I contend that the representations of Tecumseh in Canada 1812 ultimately conform to racist stereotypes of Indigenous peoples that rationalize colonialism and Canadian nation-building as benevolent, even natural and inevitable. The way we are taught to see the past shapes our understandings of, and actions in, the present and future. Thus, the representations of Tecumseh in Canada 1812 are problematic not only because of their racist underpinnings, but also because they play important roles in forming perceptions of Indigenous peoples that continue to justify Canada’s colonial policies of coercion, displacement, and assimilation.

The Continuing Co-optation of Tecumseh   

Tecumseh is a controversial and contested figure in Canadian history. In the recent article “The Co-optation of Tecumseh: The War of 1812 and Racial Discourse in Upper Canada,” Brownlie argues that Tecumseh is now generally understood as an Indigenous patriot who allied with the British in the War of 1812 to defend Indigenous peoples against further encroachment from whites. In the decade following the War of 1812, however, Brownlie shows how Tecumseh was subsequently “claimed by Upper Canadians as a war hero and symbol of the struggle with the United States, a ‘Noble Savage’ whose life and death provided material for nation-building discourses.”[10] In examining two lengthy poems from the 1820s, Brownlie claims that the most prominent themes in these works are “Tecumseh’s indomitable spirit, his ability to command his fellow warriors, and his fighting prowess.”[11] At the same time, Brownlie contends that the poems also deploy common racist stereotypes that reflect the era’s image of the “savage, driven by violence and lacking the education and cultivated emotions of Europeans.”[12] Ultimately, Brownlie argues that these representations of Tecumseh “served to mark off Indigenous peoples from the white Canadians whose cultural superiority legitimated their possessions of the lands and resources of Upper Canada.”[13] In the early nineteenth century, then, the image of Tecumseh was co-opted for nation-building.

Almost 200 years later, the comic book Canada 1812 deploys similar imagery for, I will suggest, similar nation-building purposes. The continuing co-optation of Tecumseh should be of no surprise to those familiar with the literature on race, representation, and Indigenous peoples. In the important study The White Man’s Indian: Images of the American Indian from Columbus to the Present, Robert Berkhofer Jr. stresses continuity as a crucial feature of white representations of Indigenous peoples. Berkhofer argues, “The basic question to be asked of such overall white Indian imagery and conception is not…why its invention in the first place but why its continuance, or perpetuation, for so many succeeding centuries?”[14] As Berkhofer and many writers and scholars have shown, images of Indigenous peoples are often used in ways that continue to justify colonialism and rationalize coercive policies and practices by settlers against Indigenous peoples.[15] In terms of evaluating the representations of Tecumseh in the Canada 1812 comic book, I will focus on identifying the “persistence and perpetuation” of certain strategies of Tecumseh’s co-optation for nation-building that Brownlie outlines.

“My name is Tecumseh”: Race and Representation in Canada 1812

Tecumseh played a crucial role in the War of 1812. As an influential ally, he brought many Indigenous peoples to the British side and acted as a strong leader in battle. Yet, despite Tecumseh’s pivotal role in the war, he is not afforded a lot of agency in the majority of popular accounts of the war. As Brownlie argues about the poems from the 1820s, Tecumseh’s own voice, intentions, and ambitions are refracted through the perspective of whites and are thus subsequently distorted and diffused. Generally, his determination to protest land theft and colonialism is downplayed while his heroic nature as a British ally is accented.

Unlike the other characters in Canada 1812 such as Brock or Secord, Tecumseh is often pushed to the margins of the narrative. This is true even in Tecumseh’s separate segment in the comic book. The first time Tecumseh appears is during Brock’s section which is narrated in the first person by Brock. Tecumseh is shown meeting with the General in his office and the Shawnee chief is accompanied by two un-identified Indigenous men relegated to the background. Brock speaks first as the narrator, “We impressed the First Nations. It’s time to solidify the alliance.”[16] The comment implies that it is Brock’s idea to strike the alliance and this downplays the separate ambitions of Indigenous peoples. Tecumseh is then offered one of his few speaking engagements in the comic book, simply proclaiming, “My name is Tecumseh.” While the comic book suggests the two leaders then discussed strategy, it is Brock who resumes the role of narrator and claims, “Let’s take Detroit.”[17]

Tecumseh is consciously constructed as an ally, whereas Brock is transformed into the hero. During the siege of Fort Detroit, Tecumseh decides to circle his men back through the forest to make it appear to the Americans that the British forces were more numerous. As a result of Tecumseh’s genius, as well as other creative methods of deception used by the British, the Americans surrender the fort. While the comic book affords the most coverage to the British tactics, Tecumseh is depicted as stating “we did it,” implying a united front between the British and Indigenous peoples.[18] It is interesting to note that the comic book fails to mention that part of the British strategy was to pressure the Americans to surrender with the threat of a brutal Indigenous attack. In fact, Brock wrote a letter to American General William Hull claiming that he would not be able control the “savage” Indigenous warriors once the siege began.

The conclusion to Brock’s segment once again pushes Tecumseh and Indigenous peoples to the sidelines. The comic book dramatically depicts Brock’s death at the battle of Queenston and Brock explains: “I fell but I found glory. When Tecumseh heard in the spring of 1813, his hopes were dashed. But the dream lived on. And the battle where I lost my life proved Canada would endure.”[19] In essence, the end of Brock’s segment relegates Tecumseh to the margins and suggests that the “dream” of creating a Canadian nation came at the cost of Indigenous peoples’ “hopes” for land and justice.

The marginalization of Indigenous peoples in Canada 1812 continues in Tecumseh’s own separate section. While Tecumseh talks more in this segment, there are still many instances where white characters are given the prominent speaking roles, which literally and figuratively silence Tecumseh in his own story. For example, when the decision to attack Fort Detroit is retold, it is Brock, again, that relays the important information to the reader. As the battle rages, Brock and Tecumseh are depicted together side by side, but Tecumseh is drawn smaller and slightly below the larger heroic figure of Brock. These depictions symbolically suggest Tecumseh’s subservience to Brock.

Moreover, during the siege of Fort Meigs in Ohio, Tecumseh and Major General Henry Proctor are shown disagreeing over strategy. However, when Tecumseh calls Proctor on being a coward for wanting to avoid conflict with the Americans, it is Proctor who is given the prominent speaking role, “We’ll face them together on the Thames.”[20] When Proctor and his men end up retreating in the battle they are not depicted as running away, instead they are represented in forceful poses. In reality, the British soldiers broke rank and ran away against orders. Yet, when Tecumseh is killed, his men are shown actively fleeing the battle. Thus, even in his own story Tecumseh is marginalized and represented in ways that suggest he and his Indigenous warriors were generally inferior to the British.

When Tecumseh is depicted directly, he is most often cast as the Noble Savage. Tecumseh is represented as being wise, creative, and strategic. Nevertheless he is still portrayed as possessing savage characteristics. Brownlie argues that in the poems from the 1820s, Tecumseh is viewed as acting out of vengeance. Similarly in Canada 1812, Tecumseh’s story begins with him recounting the murder of his father and later his brother at the hands of land-hungry Americans. The Americans are portrayed as ruthless but so are Indigenous peoples. The Indigenous warriors are depicted as dangerous and desperately wanting revenge for American outrages. As a result, the British alliance with Tecumseh is an uneasy one. Even though Tecumseh is viewed as a brilliant strategist, Brock tells another British officer that “he couldn’t be held accountable for what became of his men at the hands of Tecumseh”[21] Tecumseh, while a great warrior, is still a “savage” and thus cannot fully be trusted by the British.

Tecumseh is also portrayed as being an exceptional “Indian.” Brownlie argues that “Tecumseh is depicted much of the time against a background of his fellow Indigenous warriors, who serve as foil.”[22] Brownlie’s observation holds true for Canada 1812. And Tecumseh’s fellow Indigenous warriors in the comic book are indeed “fellows.” Indigenous women are completely absent from Tecumseh’s story, with the exception of one panel where a woman is depicted as running away with her children from a village that is being set on fire by American soldiers. In the rest of the fighting scenes in the comic book, Indigenous male warriors are depicted as vicious and brutal. In the majority of the battle scenes, the British and American soldiers are depicted in crisp military uniforms with very stoic and expressionless looks on their faces. However, when Indigenous men are represented in battle, their eyes are wide and their mouths are open in forceful expressions, as if they are enjoying the thrill of war.

The inherent “savagery” of the rest of Tecumseh’s men is displayed in one scene where in the midst of the conflict Tecumseh comes across a warrior about to scalp an enemy solider. Tecumseh intervenes and says, “I have seen torture. I want no part of it. I ordered my men to stop.”[23] This sequence implies that Indigenous warriors were more savage and that Tecumseh had been privy to scalping and torture before, but had renounced his past barbaric practices. Tecumseh is thus exceptional against a background of savagery that generally marks off Indigenous peoples from the more “civilized” whites. The comic book fails to mention that scalping was a common practice among American soldiers during the War of 1812.

A closer comparison of the ways in which Indigenous warriors and non-Indigenous soldiers are represented is further proof that Canada 1812 portrays Indigenous peoples as being more “savage” than whites. In the lead up to the attack on Fort Meigs, the comic book explains that a number of Indigenous warriors joined the British forces. In the accompanying image the British soldiers are depicted as marching orderly in crisp and clean uniforms with Indigenous allies at the back of the formation. The caption informs the reader that while 1,400 warriors merged with the British, none were “willing to join them in a direct attack on the American fort.”[24] Again, this sets up the British troops as being not only more orderly and disciplined, but also more courageous and brave. In contrast, most depictions of Indigenous warriors accent their so-called “savagery.” In one scene, a group of Indigenous reinforcements appear in British uniform; however, their appearance is dishevelled with tattered coats and ripped pants, suggesting the savagery of these Indigenous fighters could not be fully contained by the adoption of more “civilized” clothes. These contrasting representations serve to emphasize the inherent difference between whites and Indigenous peoples.

Lastly, Tecumseh’s segment concludes by suggesting that colonialism, while tragic, was inevitable. Brownlie argues that in poems from the 1820s, the Americans were depicted as particularly brutal while the British were portrayed as being more humane. Similarly, Canada 1812 contends that it was the Americans who were land-hungry and vicious, displacing Indigenous peoples from their lands. The British on the other hand are depicted as simply benevolent allies of Indigenous peoples who were powerless to stop the American incursions into Indigenous territories. This kind of narrative deflects attention away from Canada’s own sordid history of colonialism and dispossession.

Tecumseh’s section ends by largely focusing only on the American example of colonialism. The final two panels of the section inform readers that “at the end of the War of 1812, both sides claimed victory. The British and the Americans. But for all their grandstanding, there was no doubt who lost it…” The ellipses direct the readers’ gaze to an image of a white farmer working the land while a dejected Indigenous man in the corner looks on, symbolizing the displacement of Indigenous peoples in the US. While this could be read as a critique of colonialism, nothing is mentioned about the fact that after the War of 1812 officials in what becomes Canada also adopted coercive policies to dispossess Indigenous peoples from their lands. The conclusion to Tecumseh’s story, then, demonizes American settler colonialism while largely ignoring Canada’s woeful treatment of Indigenous peoples that continues to this day.

Conclusions: Comics, Colonialism, and Canadian History

Canada 1812: Forged in Fire illustrates Canada’s past in ways that will appeal to a popular audience, but it does so in problematic ways that need to be challenged. As part of a larger strategy to “re-brand” Canada for national-building purposes, Canada 1812 offers readers a romanticized rendition of the history of the War of 1812 that accents patriotism and nationalism while downplaying Canada’s complicity in harmful colonial policies and denying Indigenous peoples any sense of meaningful agency. In particular, the comic book portrays Tecumseh as the Noble Savage, an exception to the otherwise fierce, vengeful, and “savage” Indigenous peoples allied with Britain. In constructing Tecumseh as a kind of Canadian “hero,” the comic book also ignores the more complicated nature of Indigenous struggles for land and justice in the nineteenth century and misconstrues Tecumseh’s political intentions. As Brownlie has pointed out, Tecumseh would have likely opposed the creation of the Canadian nation at the expense of Indigenous autonomy and control over lands and resources.

The continuing co-optation of Tecumseh in Canada 1812 is problematic not only because it continues the legacy of racist representations of Indigenous peoples, but because such portrayals can significantly shape peoples’ contemporary perceptions of, and actions towards, Indigenous peoples. This is especially dangerous at time when the Harper Government is cracking down on Indigenous dissent and corporate media are trying to discredit increasing Indigenous protests over everything from fracking and pipelines to the government’s failure to call a national inquiry into the hundreds of murdered and missing Indigenous women across Canada. Whether intentionally or not, racist representations of Indigenous peoples, like those found in Canada 1812, are part of the larger colonial project which continues to privilege a nation-building agenda and legitimize ongoing colonial coercion, displacement, and assimilation in Canada. Thus, challenging colonial ideas—on film and television or in textbooks and comic books—must be a part of the larger struggle for justice and decolonization.

And with major milestones in the colonial project on the horizon such as the centennial of the Great War in 2014, the bicentennial of John A. Macdonald’s birthday in 2015, and the sesquicentennial of Canadian confederation in 2017, historians must continue to challenge attempts by the state, increasingly supported by corporations, to manufacture and manipulate Canadian history in ways that legitimize colonialism and nation-building. Challenging the way we are taught to understand the past must continue to play an important role in our active struggles to improve the present and future.