"Historic War of 1812 Minute Features Six Nations Warriors"

Applause broke out last Wednesday evening after the official launch of a new historical minute debuted by the Historica-Dominion Institute (H-DI) showing a Haudenosaunee win during the War of 1812.

The 60 second video clip tells the story of John Norton and Grand River warriors turning the tide and ultimately winning The Battle of Queenston Heights after British forces were routed.

The renowned British strategist and military leader, General Brock, had died from a gun shot wound to be the chest minutes into battle. With British forces routed, it was up to the Grand River warriors to defend what was known then as Upper Canada.

Norton, a Mohawk war chief of mixed Scottish and Cherokee descent, who had been adopted by Mohawk war chief and leader Joseph Brant, along with John Brant, led a group of barely 100 warriors against an American force that numbered into the thousands.

The minute shows what appears to be a native scout warning Norton and warriors about Brock's death, though none of the players in the battle are clearly labeled. Norton rallies the men and pieces of the battle are shown.

The minute ends with a short narrative, "At the Battle of Question Heights 80 Grand River warriors, including John Norton and John Brant held off the Americans for hours to help take back the Heights."

Brigitte d'Auzac, Senior Manager of the Historica Dominion Institute, was excited to be launching the minute, which is the second of two heritage minutes in 10 years. Prior to that a full 60 clips were developed.

"It's huge for us, we're really getting back into the heritage minute business," she said, adding that the H-DI has received funding to produce two minutes a year until 2017, the 150th anniversary of Canada.

She said each new minute will cost about $250,000 to make.

Rick Hill, a Tuscarora historian and former University of Buffalo history professor, who introduced the minute, said he's been overwhelmed by the response and inclusion of native history into the Canadian history. He attributed the native victory at Queenston Heights to native medicine and the genius of the wartime leaders.

"200 years later and our story is one of the lead stories," he said. A short question and answer session with the director of the short and actors followed the debut.

The minute is available on YouTube and can be seen at www.theturtleislandnews.com