The Military History.ca website proudly presents a new and growing series of engaging and informative podcasts dedicated to Canadian military history. These episodes explore the wide range of wars, battles, and military operations that have shaped the nation’s past—both at home and abroad. From conflicts involving Indigenous peoples before European contact, to the struggles of colonial militias, and the service of Canadians in global conflicts, peacekeeping missions, and modern-day operations, the podcast series brings to life the stories of those who fought, served, and sacrificed. Whether examining pivotal battles on Canadian soil or overseas campaigns where Canadians made their mark, each episode provides rich historical context and thoughtful reflection, helping listeners better understand the complex military legacy of Canada and its people.
NEW EPISODES EVERY FRIDAY
Part 1.1 -The podcast episode on warfare among the Eastern Woodlands Indigenous peoples, part of a broader series on the history of warfare in Canada, explores the complex, deeply rooted martial traditions that existed long before European contact. It delves into how societies such as the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), Algonquin, and Mi’kmaq engaged in conflict, often for purposes of resource control, territorial defense, social prestige, and the taking of captives for adoption to replace lost community members. Warfare in these cultures was governed by intricate protocols and spiritual beliefs, emphasizing both bravery and community survival. The episode highlights the cyclical nature of conflict, the importance of alliances and diplomacy, and the sophisticated tactics that shaped intertribal relationships, offering a vivid portrayal of a dynamic and structured martial world that Europeans would later misunderstand and exploit.
Part 1.2 – The podcast episode focusing on warfare among the Indigenous peoples of the Prairies, part of the series on the history of warfare in Canada, reveals a rich and dynamic martial culture that was vital to survival and identity long before European contact. It discusses how nations like the Blackfoot Confederacy, Cree, Assiniboine, and Dakota engaged in conflict to secure resources such as buffalo hunting grounds, to protect trade routes, or to assert political dominance. Warfare on the Plains was often highly mobile, featuring skilled horse warriors after the arrival of horses (though this innovation came slightly later) and complex tactics like ambushes and raiding. The episode also highlights the ceremonial aspects of warfare, including rituals that honored bravery and sought spiritual protection. Through detailed storytelling, it captures how war was deeply intertwined with community, spirituality, and the shifting power dynamics of life on the vast Prairie landscape.
PPart 1.3 -The podcast episode on warfare among the Indigenous peoples of the West Coast, part of the broader series on the history of warfare in Canada, illuminates the distinct martial traditions of groups like the Haida, Tlingit, Coast Salish, and Nuu-chah-nulth. In these societies, warfare was often tied to wealth, status, and the control of trade routes and important resources like fishing territories. Raiding was a common practice, aimed at capturing slaves or asserting dominance, and naval warfare played a central role, with battles often fought using large, expertly crafted cedar canoes. The episode emphasizes the strategic sophistication of West Coast warfare, including the use of fortified villages and intricate planning of attacks. It also explores how warfare was not just physical but deeply ceremonial, intertwined with displays of power, rituals of vengeance, and complex social obligations. This vivid portrayal shows how martial prowess was central to political and cultural life along the rugged Pacific coastline.
Part 2 – In this episode of the Military History.ca podcast, we journey back over a thousand years to the rugged shores of Newfoundland, where Norse explorers from across the Atlantic made landfall at a place now known as L’Anse aux Meadows. Around the year 1000 AD, these Viking settlers—led by Leif Erikson and other figures from the Icelandic sagas—encountered the Indigenous peoples of the region, likely ancestors of the Beothuk. What followed was a short but tense period marked by cultural misunderstandings, competition for resources, and, ultimately, violent conflict. Drawing from Norse sagas, archaeological discoveries, and Indigenous oral traditions, this episode explores one of the earliest known moments of armed contact between Europeans and North America’s First Peoples. It’s a story of exploration, resistance, and the clash of worlds at the edge of the known map.