Episode #6
Series 2 Episode 6 - John Norton - Teyoninhokarawen, the Six Nations & the War of 1812
Today we welcome Carl Benn, PhD , an Author and Professor of History to talk about the life of John Norton or Teyoninhokarawen .John Norton was an important war chief and diplomatic figure among the Grand River Haudenosaunee (or Six Nations Iroquois) in Upper Canada at the time of the War of 1812. John Norton saw more action during the War of 1812 than almost anyone else, being present at the fall of Detroit ; the capture of Fort Niagara ; the battles of Queenston Heights, Fort George, Stoney Creek, Chippawa, and Lundy’s Lane ; the blockades of Forts George and Erie , as well as a large number of skirmishes and front-line patrols. Norton’s memoir on the War of 1812, annotated by Professor Benn, describes the fighting, the stresses suffered by Indigenous peoples, and the complex relationships between the Haudenosaunee and both their British allies and other First Nations communities. Professor Benn's deep knowledge and insight into the life and deeds of John Norton and the Six Nations of the Grand River is foremost; anyone interested in this topic will hopefully listen to our Podcast and read his book. Dr. Carl Benn joined Toronto Metropolitan University in 2008 as both a faculty member and Chair of the Department of History. Before then, he worked in the museum field for several decades, where he fulfilled senior curatorial and managerial duties, restored historical properties, curated exhibits and period-room settings, and produced educational and other public services. Dr. Benn’s extensive publications include six history books. His most recent is A Mohawk Memoir from the War of 1812: John Norton – Teyoninhokarawen (2019). In 2020, it won the Canadian Historical Association’s Clio Prize for the best book on the history of Ontario. Currently he is writing a book on the history of the Royal Ontario Museum.
